» 

X 

rf 

d 
Jl 

^ 
^ 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


The  "Mercbancfife    of  a  People 
HOLINESS  TO  THE  LORD. 

A 

SERMON, 

Preached  in  part  at  the 

TubHc^LeUure  in  *Bofton, 

July    I.     I  7*  ^ 

In  part   at  a  private  Meeting 
for  Chanty  to   the   Poor, 

March  6.     1726. 
And   now  publifhed  as 

A  Than/tO/ering  to  GOD 
for  repeated  furprifing  Bounties 

from    LONDON 
for  Ufcs   of  Piety  and   Charity. 

By  Benjamin  Colman>  D.  D. 

And  Paftor   of  a  Church  in  Bojlo*. 

2  Cor.  ix.  9.  He  bath    differed  abroad,   he  hath  given 
to  the   Poor,  bis    Rigbtewfrcfs  remaineth  fo 


B  O  S  T  O  N)    n      e 

Printed  by  J.  Draper,  in  Ncwbury-^rect, 
x    7     3     6. 


To   the   HONOURABLE 


Samuel  Holden,  Efq; 


of  LONDON: 


S  I  R, 


ejenerous  Things  You  have  been 

doins from  Ycar  to  Ycar  for  ™y  Co»»- 

rr^^  f'01' many  of  the  Churches  of  Cbrift 
in  if>  whom  You  have,  cnrich'd  with 
Means  of /;?oW  Knowledge  and  pratti* 
cal  Religion  •  and  for  the^  ^/>«/  P<?or  in 
it,  both  Minlfters  and  Others,  who  have  tailed  of 
ycur  Bounties  and  their  Souls  have  blefled  You  ; 
have  led  me  into  this  open  Acknowledgment,  to 
the  Glory  of  God,  from  whofc  Hands  we  would 
receive  what  You  and  Others  have  fent  us  from 
Time  to  Time,  an  Odour  of  a  facet  Smell,  a  Sacrifice 
'acceptable,  wdl  f  leafing  to  God. 

Sir, 


ft     .   -DE-DIC  A  TION. 

Sir,  I  hold  my  Self  highly  indebted  to  the  Go* 
verning  Providence  of  a  gracious  God,  which  led 
me  in  my  Youth  from  my  Native  Land  to  lee  That 
of  our  Fathers  Sepulchres  ;  and  in  my  Way  thither 
was  pleas 'd  to  ftrip  me  of  the  Little  I  had,  that  I 
might  be  invited  by  the  excellent  Saint  your  dear 
Mother,  who  took  in  the  Stranger,  and  for  a  Ccurfe 
of  Years  together  regarded  him  as  a  Son,  while  her 
Soul  longed  after  Tou  at  Riga. 

What  the  Holy  God  was  then  doing  I  could  little 
know  at  the,  Time,  but  He  has  made  me  to  per- 
ceive fince,  "  That  He  led  me  into  Mr.  Parkhurjt's 
Houfe,  and  from  thence  to  Bath,  to  bring  me  into 
a  more  immediate  &  extenfive  Acquaintance  with 
Terfbns  of  DijHnEHon  for  Learning  and  Religion^  for 
my  greater  Ufsfulnefs  in  the  Times  that  have  palled 
over  me,  and  to  be  the  Hand  thro'  which  his  pur- 
pofed  Benefactions  to  our  College,  to  many  of  our 
Towns  and  Churches,  and  to  many  poor  Mcmbws  of 
Chrift  in  thefe  Parts,  {hould  flow. 

By  the  Help  of  God,  I  humbly  hope  that  I  have 
wittingly  done  the  Part  of  a  faithful  Almoner,  as 
well  in  advlfing  when  I  have  been  writ  to,  as  i» 
tbferving  the  Directions  of  Thofc  who  have  intruded 
me  ;  which  is  all  the  Honour  I  may  pretend  to  in 
the  A dtninif  ration  of  this  Service,  which  is  abundant  by 
wemj  Thankfgivings  to  God  •  ibme  of  which  You  have 
feen  and  read,  as  from  the  Hand  of  worthy  Mini- 
Jtersj  fo  One  efpccially  from  the  Angelick  Pen  of  a  * 
Gentlewoman,  who  in  the  School  of  Affliction  made  a 
Proficiency  in  Grace  and  facred  5«*»<*,even  beyond 
all  that  the  School  of  the  Prophets  among  us  has  been 
able  to  boaft  !  and  as  foon  almoft  as  She  had  wrote  , 
what  I  fent  You,  lay  down  and  died  in  perfect 
Peace. 

*  Mrs,  Gfrrijb  of 


DEDICATION,          iii 

I  know  Sir  You  are  no  Stranger  to  the  "Profujton 
of  Bounties  which  for  a  Courfc  of  many  Years  our 
College  received  from  the  moil  pious  and  munifi- 
cent Thomas  Hollts,  Efq;  whofc  worthy  Heir  has 
ibon  followed  him  to  the  Grave,  after  he  had  made 
a  good  Addition  to  the  Foundations  laid  by  his 
Uncle,  and  adorn'd  us  with  a  rare  Orrery ;  and  now 
we  have  the  Tydings  of  the  Death  of  John  Hollis, 
Efq;  the  worthy  Brother  of  our  great  Benefactor, 
and  a  Heir  with  him  of  the  lame  Grace  j  who  was 
alfo  a  Father  to  poor  Orphans  here,  as  well  as  at 
Home. 

And  if  it  were  permitted  me,  I  would  now  have 
nam  d  Another,  a  younger  Gentleman,  whom  God 
has  Inrlch  d  with  till  Bohnt ifulnefs  US-Ward  ;  ofwhofe 
Liberality  our  Churches  and  our  Poor  have  hereto- 
fore largely  tailed  •  and  this  Year  brings  me  the 
Joy  of  an  Order  from  him  for  fchooling,  cloathing, 
feeding  and  lodging  of  twenty  Indian  Children  at 
Hcjfatonnoc,  a  Tribe  who  have  lately  received  the 
Gofpel  with  a  marvelous  Joy,  and  are  now  under 
the  Paftoral  Care  of  the  Reverend  and  Learned  Mr. 
John  Sargent. 

You  will  eafily  think,  Sir,  how  placid  the  Sur- 
frlfe  of  fuch  a  Benefaction  is,  and  tho7  I  fee  not 
how  the  Donor  of  fo  public  a  Charity  can  be  kept 
fecret,  any  more  than  a  City  Jet  on  a  Hill  can  be  bid  ; 
yet  the  Thing  ought  to  be  told  to  the  Glory  of  God, 
and  in  this  open  Manner  I  would  let  tne  hidden 
Donor  know  the  Senfe  we  have  of  the  Gocdnefs  ef 
GOD  to  us  thro7  Him,  and  our  Prayers  for  Him, 
that  his  Fathir  which  fatk  in  fieref  will  reward  him 


iv          DEDICATION. 


j  Sir,,  that  I  mean  a  Dedication  of  the  fol- 
lowing Dlfcourfe  to  this  namelefs  Benefactor  alfo, 
who  would  account  it  an  Honour  to  be  nam'd 
after  Tou  ;  Whem  God  has  fet  in  the  Chair  among 
your  Brethren  the  DiJ]  enters,  and  honoured  You 
before  the  Greateft  Men  at  Court  as  well  as  in  the 
City,  for  Wiidom,  Modefty  and  Integrity. 

That  your  Days  may  be  multiplied,  even  crofs 
to  your  own  Wijhii  of  a  fpeedy  Entrance  on  a  bet- 
ter Life  ;  for  your  greater  and  longer  Ufefulnefs  in 
your  Generation,  and  your  more  abundant  Reward 
in  the  Day  of  Chrift  ;  and  that  a  gracious  God 
may  alfo  pleafe  to  multiply  Grace  and  Peace  unto  our 
Other  Benefattors,  is  the  hearty  Prayer  of, 


S  I  R, 


Your  moft  Obliged  Friend, 


and   very  Humble  Servant, 

Boflon,  Mttj  jv 


^Benjamin  Colman. 


To  the  Gentlemen   of  the  Town   of 

,  who  ufually  attend   the    weekly  Lecture, 


And  to  T£0/£  in  particular  who  attend  the  J>uarterly 
Meetings  for  Collections  for  the  P#$r  in  QornhilL 


Gentlemen, 


H  E  N   the  following  Difcourfe    was 

prea.ch'd  tor^ a  p^rc.^fic  at  thc 

\V  :»  />«^/zV  Letture,  and  a  part  in  your  more 
private  Meeting,  You  were  then  ad- 
drefs'd  in  the  Clofc  of  thofe  Sermons 
in  the  following  #W/,  which  I  think 
good  WOT^  to  bring  to  your  Remembrance,  and  alfo 
to  lay  before  Others. 

"  I  fpeak  unto  a  Trading  Town,  and  I  thank  God 
c  unto  a  Peep/*  us'd  to   Charities  and  //'for*/  Things. 

[[  Need  I  provoke  you  to  Emulrtu*  by  what  is 

B  "  written 


ISOlJAD     («) 

"  written  of  the  Men  of  Tyre  ?  And  God  forbid 

<c  that  they  fhouid  rife  up  in  'Judgment  again  ft  Usy 
€C  and  condemn  us.  Shall  not  your  Merchandize  and 
<$  your  Hire  be  Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  when  theirs  was 
"  fo,  when  the  C,  off  el  came  among  thfm  I  Surely 
"  we  have  carried  our  ProfeJJion  as  high.,  and  our  Ob- 
"  Illations  are  at  leaft  as  great  as  Thole  of  Tjreand 
cc  Sidon. 

.  c:  One  natural  Benefit  of  Trade  and  Commerce 
rc  to  any  People  is^  that  it  enlarges  their  Hearts 
"to  do  generous  Things.  God  grant  that  every 
"  Thing  of  that  Nature  done  among  us,  or  ly  O- 
<c  thers  for  us,  may  be  fo  done  as  to  carry  in  their 
"  Front  the  glorious  Infcription  of  HOLINESS  TO 
Cf  GOD.  So  let  it  be  in  your  fccret  Gifts  and  Dif- 
<f  tributions,  fo  in  your  private  and  more  bounti- 
€c  ful  Subscriptions  and  Celk&ions,  whether  they  be 
<c  for  God's  Peor  or  for  his  Worfliip.  And  I  wifli 
u  the  Tropofals  which  were  lately  printed  for  the 
<c  yearly  Gathering  a  fmall  Stock  or  Pund  in  parti- 
<c  cular  Congregations  for  pious  and  charitable  Ufes, 
<c  might  find  Acceptance  in  our  Churches,  and 
prove  a  happy  Means  of  fulfilling  my  Jext  among 


"  us. 


"  But  there  is  one  Thing,  the  Work  and  Duty 
"  of  the  prefent  Day,  which  1  may  not  omit,  if  I 
cc  would  be  juft  e'trier  to  my  Text  or  to  my  Country  ; 

"  which  is  That  your  Merchandise  and  Hire  muf 

"  be  for  Them  -which  dwell  before  the  Lcrd,  to  eat  fuffi- 
cc  ciently  and  for  durallt  Clothing.  How  ftiall  it  be 
*c  called  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  without  this  ?  You 
*:  muft  make  Confcience  of  fupporting  your  Mini- 
*'  fterr,  who  ferve  in  the  Santtuary  and  at  the  Altar 
"  of  God,  Money  /<*/A,  you  all  wife  vour  Mer- 

"  chandife 


( iii ) 

"  chandife^  and  you  are  unjuft  to  Chrlft  and  his  Mi- 
c<  fters,  (that  is  to  lay  unholy)  if  you  do  not  ra//e 
"  their  Support.  It  is  impoffibie  that  They  ihould 
cc  eat  fufficiently,  or  haveC/0/£/»g  for  their  Families, 
<c  if  their  Support  rife  not  while  all  your  Trade 
<c  and  Hire  rifts  after  fo  prodigious  a  Manner. 
t(  This  is  to  your  poor  Minlfters,  like  a  bundredlit- 
<c  tie  Streams  uniting  on  them,  and  bearing  them 
"  away  as  with  a  -F/W  ,•  or  like  a  fweeping  Raitt 
<(  that  leaves  no  food.  You  muft  up  inftantly  or  it 
'*  will  wajh  away  the  Field  of  God.,  his  Worjhiphom 
"  oft  the  Face  of  the  Land.  You  muft  mmiftec 
((  more  of  your  rifing  Hire  to  the  Temple  of  God, 
"  or  let  drop  any  Pretence  to  my  Text. 

"  This  Matter  belongs  in  the  firft  place  to  the 
"  Government  over  us3  who  have  had  it  under  Con- 
ce  fidcration  in  their  prefent  SeJJion  *  and  pioufly 
*'  re/olved,  That  it  is  the  Indifpenfable  Duty  of  the 
"  leveral  Towns,  Trecinfts  and  Parishes  of  the  Pro- 
<f  vince,  to  make  fuch  Additions  to  the  Salaries  or 
<c  Maintenance  of  their  refpe&ive  Minlfters,  as  may 
<c  honourably  fupport  and  encourage  them  in  theic 
"  Work :  The  Court  did  therefore  moft  earneftly 
fe  recommend  a  fpeedy  and  chearful  Compliance 
"  with  this  their  Judgment,  to  the  feveral  Congrega- 
*'  tlons  and  Religious  Ajfemblles  within  the  Province. 

"  To  Them  it  indeed  belongs  nextly  and  more 
<c  immediately,  whofe  Frofeffion  in  a  Church-State 
"  is  this  Hollnefs  to  the  Lord  •  and  it  is  the  Duty  of 
c  the  refpedive  Members  in  every  Congregation  to 
c  fee  to.it  that  their  Merchandlfe   and  Husbandry  be 
fo,  and  that  ?/>^V  P^/or^  have  Af^f  fuffichnt  and 
Clothing.  For  with  what  Face  and 


7  a  5» 

B  ^  <c  Confciencc 


<c  Confctence  fhall  every  One  of  you  rife  a  Tenny 
cf  or  a  Shitting  in  your  Hire  andMerchandife,  Year 
cc  after  Year,  and  not  rile  alfo  in  the  Support  of 
"  your  Minlfters  ?  I  leave  it  to  the  fie  tin  of  every 
cc  Merchant  and  every  Labourer  to  judge  in  this 
«  Thing,  f 


f  I  have  but  one  JtforJ  more  to  add  in  this  • 

<c  Audience^  and  that  concerns  the  College  ;  to  mind 

"  you  that  the  many  great  and  prudent  Benefactions 

"  made  of  late  Years  to  that  Society,  have  (I  truft) 

"  this  Inscription  of  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  upon  them. 

"  The  Bounties  ©f  the  pious  Mr.  Hollis  in  particular, 

f:  his  humble  Offerings  to  Chrijl  and   his  Munifi- 

cc  cence  to  us,   his  Lettures  and  devoted  Students 

*  wear  This  on  their  Forehead.     ce  Tfo  LORD  raife 

c  up  of  our  Sons  for  Trophets,  and  of  our  Toung  Men  for 

c  Na&arite*.     That  our  Son*  may  be  as  Plants  of  Righ- 

*  ttoufnefs  $  and  our  Garners  full,  affording  aU  Manner 

cc  ef  Store  \  Happy  the  People  that  are  in  fucb  a  Cafeyyea 

*'  happy  is  that  People  wbofe  Ged  is  the  Lord. 

The  Addrefs  to  Tcu,  with  which  the  Sermon  clos'd 
in  your  private  Meeting,  was  in  thefollowingWords, 

"  Finally,  Should  our  Merchandife  and  Hire  be 
<c  Holinefs  to  tJoc  Lord  ?  it  gives  a  fpecial  Countenance 
"  to,  and  puts  great  Honour  on,  yourprefent  Meeting* 
cf  This  Evening  Lifture  is  on  a  double  Account  holy 


f  Since  that  Day  many  or  moft  of  our  Churches  have  matJq 
considerable  Additions  to  the  Support  of  their  Mtnijhrs,  but 
in  very  few  Places  I  think  in  a  }uft.  Proportion  to  the  Fall 
of  Money,  and  the  Rife  of  Goods.  So  that  every  New  Tear 
or  twp  €aHs  for  a  new  P.rouljwn  ;  fuch  is  our  miferable 
finking  Condition  ;  ala<  without  Profpeft  of  any  Remedy  \ 
May  the  Dews  of  Heaven  come  down  more  abundantly  tin 
the  Placet  that  coniider  of  it  ! 

c  tO 


(v) 


u  to  God  ;  as  in  Refped  of  the  Religious  Exercife 
"  oflforjhip  fo  alfo  in  Refped  of  our  intended  O/- 
"  leffionfor  tbePoor.  The  Defign  ^.Intention  of  our  pre- 
<c  fent  Meeting  is  entirely  (acred  to  Chrlfl  &  to  his 
<c  P00r.We  come  to  caft  ourMites  into  the  LordsTrea- 
(C  fury  for  the  Ufe  of  thzWidow  &  the  Fatherlefs.  Let 
*c  us  feek  the  Divine  Grace  that  we  may  fo  worjhip, 
cc  and  fo  £zt>e3  as  becometh  Holinefs  •  in  holy  Man- 
"  ner,  with  holy  Frames,  from  holy  Principles,  for 
holy  Ends,  to  the  Increale  of  holy  Fruits  in  our 
Hearts  &  Lives,  to  the  Glory  &  Praife  of  God. 


cc 


" 


cc  Write  now.,  if  you  pleafc,  Holinejs  to  tie  Lord  on 
thefe  Doors  (|,  here  opened  to  us  for  the  fake  of 
"  Charity  and  Devotion  •  which  two  will  never  fail, 
"  no  not  when  Faith  and  Hope  (hall  ceafe,,  within 
cc  the  Ho/y  of  Holies.  The  7?;V/&  are  invited  hither, 

c  not  for  their  own  fo  much  as  for  the  Poors  fake. 
Cf  73&^  Low  els  of  the  Poor  are  refrefaed  by  Thee,  Kr  other, 
€c  in  your  calling  the  Rich  to  your  Hottfe  :  It  is  to  feafl 

c  the  poos,  the  maimed,  the  lame  and  the  blind,and  Thou 
"  Jhalt  be  recom  fenced  at  the  Refurretfio*  of  the  Juft. 

<c  This  Meeting  is  a  Witnefs  that  our  Widows  and 
"  the  Fatherlefs  are  not  negleded  in  the  daily  Mi- 
e  riiftrations.  By  Inclination  you  are  led,  and  fome 
c  of  Teu  more  efpecially  are  by  *  Office  bound,  un- 
c  to  this  Service.  And  God  is  not  unrighteous  tofor- 
>e  get  this  Labour  of  Love,  which  you  are  Rowing  to 
6  his  Name,  in  miniflring  to  his  Saints. 

"  We  have  had  a  hard  and  long  Winter  t,  which 
"  fome  may  think  has  impoverifhed  the  Town,  but 

|J  Deacon  WUi*m<?s  in  Cornbill.    *  The  Deacons  of  the  Churches; 
t  March  <J«   i  7  a  <5, 

«  God 


(vi) 


"  God  has  carried  us  thro7  it.,  and  provided  for  the 
"  Poor.  Yet  they  muft  needs  be  left  the  more  bare 
"  and  neceffitous.,and  laden  with  little  Debts  it  may 
fc  be,  which  you  Brethren  are  now  met  to  fayy  with 
<c  a  willing  Mind  ,*  that  they  may  begin  a  New 
<c  Tear  with  Thank/giving  to  God  on  your  behalf.— 
<c  I  need  not  urge  you  to  what  you  are  fo  r$ady  of 
u  your  felves.  You  are  met  for  this  very  End,  to 
€C  fray  us  to  accept  the  Gift,  and  to  continue  in  this  Fel~ 
"  lowfhip  of  miniftring  to  the  Saints.  Like  Titus 3 
<c  I  am  defired  mmy  Turn  to  minifter  unto  thefnifli- 
fc  ivg  in  you  the  Grace,  which  God  has  long  fincei 
tc  begun.  And  God  Is  able  to  make  aU  Grace  to  abound 

c  toward  you,  that  ye  always  having  Alfafficicncy  in  all 
"  Ihings,  may  abound  to  every  good  Word  and  Work — . 
€t  Now  He  that  minijtreth  Seed  to  the  Sower,  both  mlni- 
fc  fter  Bread  for  your  Foodyand  multiply  your  Seed  f own y 

c  And  increase  the  Fruits  of  your  Right  eou(ne(sy  being  en~ 
cc  riched  in  every  Thing  to  all  Bountifulnefi,  which 
"  caufetb  thro  us  Thanksgiving  unto  God. 


^r*)  flP^  ^*h  fS3^  /Z&i  f&\  ^\  f&*.  *&^  fEfa  &\  /Zfa  ^%^.  /f&$  ( 
'^^"^\^^^\^^\^^^"^^^Sl} 

^J?  «3va-7«  j  ^.3^Q'<  ^^3X^7^  x^?^  a^*.-^  V^7t  *Jg^3W7»  a^g^3  vVjTy  4ii3^ 


OUR 

3j&erchandife  and  Hir& 

HOLINESS  TO  THE  LORD. 


Ifaiah  xxiii.    18* 

'And  her  Merchanc/ife,  and  her  Hire  fbaft 
be  Holinefs  to  the  Lord. 

TR  E  is  the  City  here 
Ipokenof;  and  a  very 
good  and  great  Word  it  i* 
that  is  here  fpoken  of 
her.  It  is  a  Prophecy  of 
the  Convcrfion  of  the  Ty- 
nans  by  the  preached  Gof- 
pel }  and  how  they  (hould 
ufe  their  Wealth  in  the 
Day  when  God  Ihould 
convert  them.  And  what 
is  here  written  concern- 
ing them  is  for  our  learning,  being  a  Dire'&ion 
and  Precept  to  us,  that  our  Merchandife  and  Hire 
Ihould  be  Holinefs  t$  the  LorJ. 

ft* 


2  Merchandife  and  Hire 

Tyre  was  a  Gentile  City  of  great  Antiquity  >  and  Re- 
nown for  Trade  and  Wealth,  fcituate  on  the  Me- 
diterranean «£?./,  near  to  the  Lot  of  the  Tribe  of  After. 
It  was  built  by  fome  Colony  of  the  Zidonians,  and 
is  therefore  in  our  Context  called  the  Daughter  of 
Zidon. 

In  David  and  Solomon's  rime  we  find  the  Tynans 
faithful  Allies  and  Friends  of  IJrael.  And  as  one 
well  obferves,  a  Trading  Cities  feldom  prove  dan- 
"  gerous  Enemies  to  their  Nei'bours  $  for  they  ac- 
"  quire  and  maintain  their  Grandeur,  not  by  the 
"  Conqueft  of  others,,but  byCommerce  with  them. 

The  Inhabitants  of  Tyre  were  now  grown  the 
m©ft  skilful  in  Sea  Affairs  of  any  in  the  World.  A- 
bout  the  ninth  Year  of  Hez,ekiab,  Salmane&er  the 
^Jjyrian  invaded  and  befieged  them  both  by  Sea  and 
Land.  By  Sea  they  beat  the  AJJyrian  and  Hanician 
Fleet  of  fixty  Sail,  with  twelve  Ships  only  This 
gave  'em  a  Name  for  War  as  well  as  Riches,  and 
made  ?em  the  Terror  of  the  Ocean.  The  AJJyrian 
Army  then  block'd  'cm  up  by  Land  ;  for  Old  Tyre 
was  built  upon  the  Cent in enty and  the  »<?M>  City  after- 
ward upon  an  Ifland ;  which  Siege  they  bare  for 
five  Years,  and  were  at  laft  delivered  by  the  Death 
of  Salntanez,er.  Upon  this  Succefs  they  were  pufFd 
up  with  new  Pride,  and  grew  hau'tier  than  ever, 
which  provoked  the  Holy  God  to  utter  the 
Burden  and  Prophecy  againft  them,  in  the  Chapter 
before  us,  wherein  is  foretold,  i.  The  miferable 
Overthrow  of  the  Tyrians  by  Nt-buchadneZt&ar  and  the 
Chaldean  Army  ;  and  2.  Their  Reftoratien,  like  their 
Nei'bours  the  Jews^  after  feventy  Years ;  when  they 
fhould  recover  their  ancient  Liberty,  Trade  &  Ricbts 
again  —  This  is  the  Danger  and  Mifery  of  Places 
cf  Qomme rce,  that  as  they  grow  rich  and  ofulwt  they 

alfo 


to  the  Lord.  $ 

alfo  grow  fcnfual,  propbane  and  Infolent,  unjuft  and 
unrighteous  ,•  and  io  forfeit  the  Bleffings  of  Provi- 
dence, and  Incur  its  dreadful  Judgments  j  as  Tyre 
did. 

Nebuchadnezzar  found  it  a  hard  peice  of  Work  to 
conquer  Tyre  *.     He  began   its   Siege    about  two 
Years  after  the  Deftrudion  of  JcrufaUm  and   the 
Captivity  of  Judah.     It  held  him  thirteen  Years  be- 
fore it  was  taken,  when  he  took  a  terrible  Revenge 
and  utterly  ras'd  it.     An  Account  of  this  is  given 
us  by  the  Prophet  Ezektel,  Chap.  xxix.  i/.  18.  Son 
of  Man,  Neluehadnezzer   King  of  Babylon   caufcd  his 
Army  to  ferve  a  great  Service  again  ft  Tyre ;  every  Head- 
was  made  I'M  and  every  Shoulder  was  peeled  •  jet  had, 
he  no  Wages  nor  his  Army  for  Tyre,  for  the  Strvice  that 
he  (erved  agalnfl  it.     The  fhort  Account  of  this  Mat- 
ter is,  "  That  the  Tyrlans  h'ndmg  him  too  hard  for 
them  by  Land,  while  yet  they  were  Mailers  by  Sea, 
they  built  themfelves  a  new  City  on  an  Ijland  about 
half  a  Mile  diftant  from  the  Shore,  into  which  they 
removed  the  moft  and  beft  of  their  Effects  ,-  Io  that 
when  Nebuchadnezzar  enter'd  the  old  Clrjy  after  his 
long  Seige  and  hard  Service  of  thirteen  Years,  he 
found  no  Riches,  no  Spoil  in  the  Place,  to  repay  him 
for  his  vaftExpence  or  to  reward  his  Soldiers  •  the 
Inhabitants  having  pafs'd  with   their  Scores  into 
the  ntw  City,  which  was  afterwards  a  moft  mighty 
Maritime  Power  and  Mart  of  the  Nations,  ftill   caN 
led  TYRE;  riling  as  a  Phtsmx  from  the  Aflies  of 

her  Dam.  It  is  probable,  fays  the  noble  Hlfto- 

rian,  that  after  the  King  of  Babylon  had  deftroy'd 
the  Old  7ou>n,  thole  that  rctir'd  into  the  mw  one 
came  into  7'erms  and  fubmitted  to  him  •  and  fo 


*  See  the  learned  Dr.  Prieleaux's  Connexion  of  the  Old  and 

New  Teflt.-aent* 

C  continued 


4  Merchandise  and  Hire 

continued  in  a  ftate  of  Reftraint  and  Servitude  to 
the  B  ibylonians  and  Perjians  for  Seventy  Years  ;  al- 
the/  they  were  not  captivated  and  difperfed,  were 
not  earned  away  to  kabylon  andCkaldea,  as  the  Jews 

were. 

\ 

Such  was  the  Accomplifhment  of  the  Burden  of 
Tyre  utter'd  by  Ifaiab\  So  it  was  laidwafte,  at  which 
all  her  Sbifs  are  call'd  to  hoivl.  This  was  the  End 
of  the  joyous  City,  whofc  Antiquity  -was  of  ancient  Days, 
her  own  Feet  carry7 d  her  an>ay  \  her  Pride  and  High- 
xefs  of  Spirit,  the  Sin  of  rich  and  thriving  Places 
did  it  I  for  it  preiently  runs  a  Place  intolrreligion, 
Senfuality  and  Unrighteoufnefs.  The  fame  Pride, 
thai  caft  down  the  Angels ;  and  deftroy'd  Sodom  ia 
her  Fulneis  of  Bread,  leaving  the  polluted  Cities  as 
the  Iwagc  on  Earth  of  everlafting  Burnings  •  laid 
Tyre,  tbe  crowning  City,  defblate  •  whole  Merchants 
were  Princes ,  and  ber  "Traffickers  rbe  honourable  of  the 
Earth:  The  LORD  OF  HOSTS  did  it  tofttin  tbe 
Tride  of  all  Glory. 

Thefe  things  are  written  for  our  Warning  •  for  a 
warn'ng  to  the  Maritime  Powers  of  Europe,   to  Eng- 
land and  Holland  in  particular,  on  \vhvmtheEnds  of 
tht  World  are  ewe.     ^Q  criminal  is  the  Pride  of  Life 
in   the  Eyes  of  a  Holy  God,    and   odious  !    'Sec 
it  in  the  Judgment  of  Tyre,  as  the  moft  eminent  In- 
ftance,  E^ckiel  xxviii-  ink.   "  SVw  of  Man,  fay  to  tbe 
Prince  of  Tyre,  Thus  faitb  tbe  LORD   GOD,  Bccaufe 
thine  Heart  is  lifted  up,  And  thou  h&Jt  fa  id,  I  am  a  God, 
(a  kind  of  Ncvtune,  God  of  the  Seas)  I  fit  in  tbe  Seat 
of  God,  in  the  mid'}  of  the  Seas  :  Tet  thottart  a  Man  and 
9tot  a  God,  tb&J  thou  fet  thine  Heart  as  tbe  Heart  of  God  : 
Beheld  tbou  art  wi/er  than  Daniel  (who   had   it  feems 
fuch  a  Name  and  Fame  for  Wifdom,  thro'  the  King- 
doms and  Provinces  of  the  £*/,  that  it  might  pa^s 

tor 


ffolinefs  to  the  Lore?.  y 

for  a  Proverb  among  them,  cc  as  -wife  as  Daniel)  and, 
with  thy  H'ifflom  afidUnderJtanaing  thou  haft  gotten  thee. 
Riches, Gold  and  Silver  into  thy  Treasuries, and  thy  Heart 
Is  lifted  up  ;  (art  a.  golden  God  in  thy  own  Eyes,  ma- 
king thy  Gold  thy  Hope,  and  faying  to  it,  "  Thou  an 
my  Confidence  !  ")  Therefore  thus  faith  the  Lord  God,  Be- 
hold I  witt  bring  Strangers  upon  thee,  the  fernble  of  the, 
Nations,  and  they  foatt  draw  their  Sivords  againft  the 
Beauty  of  thy  Wifdont,  and  they  fiall  defi 'le  thy  Rrigh^ 
nefs  ;  they  fliall  bring  thee  down  to  the  Pit,  and  thou  jl  alt 
die  the  Deaths  of  the  Slain  in  the  midft  of  the  Ssas  :  thott 
Jbsilt  be  aMan  and  no  God  in  the  Hand  of  him  that  flayetb 
thee. 

All  this  God  bro't  on  proud  and  hau'ty  fyre  for 
her  Sins.  But  in  the  Clofeof  the  Chapter,  where  my 
fcxt  is  found,  we  have  "  a  firne  fix'd  for  the  Con- 
tinuance of  her  Judgment,  and  a  Prophecy  of  the  Re- 
covery of  her  ancient  Glory,  "  v.  if.  2jre {hall  be 
forgotten  feventy  Tears,  according  to  the  Days  of  one  King  • 
after  theEnd  of  feventyTears  Jh*ll  fjre  {ing  as  an  Harlot : 
by  the  Days  of  one  King  we  mult  underftand  the 
Succeffion  of  one  Family  of  theMonarchs  of  Babylon, 
NebtichadnezJ'&ar,  his  Son  and  Grandfon  ^  and  by  her 
Jinging  again  as  an  Harlot,\ve  muft  underftand,  "  her 
if  Return  to  her  State  of  former  Vrofperity,  Mer- 
"  chafidife  and  Traffic  ,  and  her  ufing  all  Arts  and 
cc  Means  (as  (he  had  done  before)  to  draw  Trade 
cc  and  Cuftomers  to  her  :  Like  as  an  Harlot  that 
<c  has  been  fometime  under  Reftraint  and  Correc- 
"  redion  for  her  Leudnefs,  when  {he  is  at  Liberty 
"  again  returns  with  a  violenrBent  to  her  old  Arts 
*  of  Temptation  *  j  Such  -was  Tyre  when  at  the  End 
of  70  Years  (he  recovered  Freedom,  Trade  and 
Riches.  She  did  all  fhe  could  to  allure  the  Com- 
merce of  the  Nations  to  her  again  ,*  the  fyrians 
were  as  much  fet  upoa  worldly  Gains,  were  as  in- 

___^^__j_^^_^^^M_MJ^^^^^,^»^M»^» 

*  See  Henry  in  loc. 

C  ordinat* 


<£  Werchanc/ife  and  Hire 

ordtnatein  their  Dcfire  and  Love  of  Wealth,  and 
in  taking  all  Methods  to  get  it,  as  they  had  been 
before  ;  and  rejoyced  in  their  Acquifitions  as  hereto- 
fore.    This  is  the  Harlotry  here  imputed  to  her,  an 
Inordinate  Luft  after  Riches,,  and   Pleafure   in  it ; 
which    in    Scripture  is   called  ipiritual   Fornication. 
And  accordingly  the  Prophet  goes  on  to  brand  and 
expofe  fjre  for  her  Love  of  Money,  v.  16.  cc  fs.ke 
an  Harp  and  go  about  the  City,  thou  Harlot  that  haft  been 
forgotten  !  make  facet  Melody,  Jing  many  Songs  that  thcu 
way  ft  be  remembred.      Nothing   can  be  more  elegant 
than  this  predicting"  the  various  Artifices  and  even 
dijhoncft  Vraflices,  whereby  the  City  of  fyre  regain- 
ing herLiberty,  would  return  into  her  -wonted  Com- 
merce with  all  the  Nations,,  and  entice  the  Merchants 
of  the  Earth  into  their  ufuai  Dealings   with  her. 
So  jbe  turn  d to  her  Hire,  and  committed  Fornication  "with 
all  the  Kingdoms  of  tbs  World  upon  the  Face  of  the  Earth, 
V.  17. 

But  then  in  the  laft  Verfi  of  the  Chapter,  which 
is  my  fext,  there  is  one  Word  of  Good  concerning 
tfjre  •  one  Word  of  Grace  refpefting  her  ,•  and  thtt  is 
—  "  That  having  recovered  her  rich  and  opulent 
State,*  flme  would  come  wherein  She  fhould  make 
a  better  Ufe  of  It  than  flie  had  done  formerly  $  (he 
fhouid  in  Procefs  of  Time  come  to  uje  it  nllgloujly, 
to  the  Honour  of  God  and  In  h'ls  Service  ;  u  Her  Mer- 
chand'ife  and  her  Hire  would  then  be  Hollnefs  to  the 
'Lord  :  And  this  is  explained  in  the  followingWords, 
It  fall  not  be  treafured  and  laid  up  ;  neither  as  Mifers 
hoard  up  their  Bags,  nor  as  the  proud  and  vain  lay 
but  and  lay  up  their  Moneys  in  Fineries  &  Jewels  • 
but  "  her  Merchandise  foall  be  for  them  that  dwell  be- 
fore the  Lord,  for  the  Support  and  Maintenance  of 
-Rtl'gion  and  the  Mini/ers  of  it  ,•  for  them  to  eat  fuf~ 
)  and  for  durable  Clothing. 

What 


Holinefs  to  the  Lorcf.  j 

What  more  could  we  hope  to  hear  of  Jerxfalcm 
the  Holy  City,  at  any  time  !  or  of  any  other  City 
of  God  in  Gofpel  Times  !  —  What  more  than  this, 
"  Her  Merchandise  and  her  Hire  flail  be  HOLINESS 
TO  THE  LORD  ?  The  High  Yrief  of  God,  in 
his  Attire  of  Holinefs  and  Glory,  on  the  great  and 
folewn  Day,  wore  no  more  fared  I*ffrifti$n  than  this 
was !  yet  this  (hall  be  written  on  the  Merchandise  of 
Tyre  I  marvellous  Word  \  written  for  the  Generati- 
ons to  come,  and  that  the  People  to  be  created  JhouU 
pralfe  the  Lord. 

But  when  was  this  to  be  ?  and  wherein  fliould  it 
be  fo  ?  —  Why,  In  the  Day  when  Tjre,  and  other 
Nations,  fhould  come,  i.  Not  to  treafure  up  their 
Gains,  from  a  Spirit  of  Covetouihefs,  or  of  Ambi- 
tion and  Pride,  or  of  Confidence  in  their  Riches  ; 
but  2.  when  their  Gains  by  Trade  ftiould  be  devo- 
ted to  God's  Honour  and  employ'd  in  his  Service,  in 
Works  of  Piety  and  Charity  •  for  the  Eftablifhment 
and  Support  of  the  H**fe  and  Worfiif  of  God,  and 
for  the  Relief  of  his  Poor  :  for  fufficient  and  durable 
Food  and  Clothing  for  the  Pajhrs  and  the  Poor  of 
Chrift's  Flocks. 

But,  was  there  e'ver  fuch  a  Time  as  this,  for  New 
Tyre  ?  and  when  was  it  ?  —  I  anfwer,  There  were 
fuch  Times  •  and  two  Periods  may  probably  be  re- 
ferr'd  to  ; 

Firjl,  The  Time  ofjudah's  Return  out  of  Babylon^ 
when  tho'  the/eventy  Years  of  fyre  were  not  quite 
expired,  yet  new  fjre  had  attained  more  than  fifty 
Years  Growth,  and  was  able  to  furnifti  the  Jews 
toward  and  affift  them  in  their  rebuilding  of  the  City 
and  their  /econd  femfle.  The  fjrians  adually  did 
this,  partly  in  Obedience  to  the  Editt  of  Cyrus,  to 
whom  they  were  fubjeft,  and  partly  from  Intereft 

and 


S  Wlerchanc/ife  and  Hire 

and  Inclination,  having  been  Fellow-Sufferers  with 
and  in  the  Captivity  of  Judah,  Accordingly  we 
read  in  the  Book  of  Ez>ra,  ot  Mtat  and  Drink,  and  Oil 
given  to  them  of  Zldun  and  o*  fjre,  to  bring  Cedar-^Trees 
from  Lebanon  to  the  Sea  of  Joppa  i  according  tv  the  Grant 
by  the  Hand  of  Cyrus  King  of  Perfia.  Chap.  iii.  7.  So 
early  was  the  Merchandiie  of  new  3j*e  Holinefs 
to  the  Lord,  for  the  rebuilding  of  his  f*mfle,  and 
for  the  furnifhing  of  his  Priefts  and  Worfl^perr.  And 
it  is  greatly  to  be  obferVed  to  the  Honour  of  tne 
Syrians,  1  hat  as  the  Fathers  in  old  fj re  had  a  fpe- 
cial  Hand  in  Materials  for  building  the/r//  Tem- 
ple, fb  had  their  Pojterity  in  the  fecond. 

"Butfecondfy,  The  Prophecy  in  my  fext  looks  to  be 
fure  to  fome  Time  long  after  the  Return  of  the  J<  ws 
from  fitibylon  •  even  to  the  Days  of  the  Mjfiah  and  the 
Converfien  of  fome  in  fjrt  by  the  freached  Go/pel* 
The  Prophecy  plainly  iuppoies  that  fjre  would  for 
a  /ow^Term  of  Years  return  into  her  old  Courie  and 
Way  of  living,  and  continue  Pagan;  tho;  in  a  Way 
ef&ttfch  it  might  be  friendly  to  the  Jews  their  Nei'- 
bours.  In  this  there  was  little  or  no  Religion  ,• 
their  Idol  Gain  and  worldly  Wealth  was  ferved  in 
It.  But  in  the  Day  of  the  Converfion  of  the  Nations 
to  the  Chriftiaa  Faith3  fyre  alfo  received  the  Gof- 
pel.  And  then  it  was  that  her  Merchandife  and 
Hire  became  Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  being  ufed  by  a 
Number  of  Gods  choicn  and  called  there  in  the 
Services  of  true  Religion  *nd  Godlinefs,  the  Support 
of  his  Worfhip,  Minifters  and  Poor. 

In  Nehemiafrs  Time  we  read  of  the  Men  of  Tyre 
^wetting  at  Jerufakm,  and  we  may  iuppofe  from 
that  Time  to  the  Day  of  Cbrift  many  a  Gift  and 
Offering  from  Tyre  to  the  Altar  of  God  at  Jerufa- 
lem  •  wherein  the  Words  of  David  in  the  xlv  T faint 
might  be  fulfilled.,  as  they  doubtlefs  were  in  his 
own  Day  •  [[  The  Daughter  of  Tyre  flail  be  there  with 
a  Gift.  In 


Holiness  to  the  Lord.  9 

In  drift's  Time  we  find  many  of  Tyre  and  Zldon 
better  difpofed  to  have  received  Him  and  his  Gofpel 
than  the  Men  of  Ifrael  ;  for  if  his  mighty  Works  bad 
been  done  among  them  they  would  have  repented  in  Duft 
and  A^es. 

In  the  Days  and  Mis  of  the  dfoflles  we  find 
Cbriftians&t  Tire,  Chap.  xxi.  3,  f.  with  whom  Paul 
tarried  fevtn  Days,  and  who  thro7  the  Spirit  warn'd 
him  of  his  Danger  and  Sufferings  if  he  went  up  to 
Jeruftlem  $  and  when  he  departed  from  them  they 
brot  him  on  bis  Way  with  their  Wives  and  Children,  fo 
reverend  and  fervent  was  their  Love  to  him  for  the 
Gofpels  lake,  till  be  was  out  of  the  City,  where  they 
kneeled  down  on  the  Shore  and  prayed,  and  took  Leave 
one  of  another.  After  this  Chriftianity  flourifticd  in 
this  trading  City,  and  then  her  Merchandise  became 
,  in  part;  to  the  Worfhip  and  Glory  of  Chrif- 


So  that  we  plainly  find  in  my  Text,  i.  A  Pro- 
phecy of  the  Converfion  of  the  Tynans.  2.  How  they 
fhould  then  u[e  their  Wealth  •  that  it  would  be  con- 
fecrated  toGod  in  piousUies^  and  holy  to  his  Worihip. 
3.  This  Spirit  and  Example  of  the  Tyrians  is  for  the 
Learning  and  Imitation  of  other  Places,  Cities  and 
Countrys,  among  the  Gentiles.  Let  the  Chriftians 
of  Tyre  teach  us,  that  where  ever  the  Gofpel  is  re- 
ceived, in  the  Love  aud  Power  of  it,  it  will  bring 
forth  this  good  Fruit  ;  the  Merchandife  and  Hire  of 
the  People  will  be  Holinefs  to  the  Lord.  "  So 
"  Cbnftians  ihould  ufe  their  Eftates  in  the  Service 

of  God,  and  unto  pious  Ufes,  and  count  thatbeft 
"  laid  tfp,which  is  fo  laid  out.  Both  the  Merchan- 
<c  dife  of  the  Men  in  Tr*de9  and  the  Hire  of  the 
fc  Men  of  Labour,  ftiould  be  devoted  to  God.  The 
*c  Tytbe  was  fo  under  the  Law,  and  there  is  a  Due 
(and  (urely  an  equal  one)  under  the  Gofpel. 

New  Tyre  has  the  Honour  of  teaching  us  this  un* 
der  the  New  Tt/awent  j  and  in  all  Places  of  the 

World 


cc 


i  6  Merchant/I fe  and  Hire 

World,  thro'  all  Ages,  the  Gofpel  is  to  be  thus  ho- 
noured. As  it  is  written,  Zech.  xiv.  20.  In  that 
Day  there  jhall  be  upon  the  Bells  of  the  Horfes  Holinefs 
unto  the  Lord  •  yea,  every  Pot  In  Jerujalem  and  injudah 
{hall  be  Holinefs  to  the  Lordof  Hofts. 

And  here  let  me  faufe  and  obferve  to  you.  The 
*  Advantage  that  trading  Places  have  beyond  others  by  their 
Merchandife  and  Commerce ;  and  th^  Obligation  they 
are  under  to  improve  their  Advantages,  for  getting 
and  propagating  the  faving  Knowledge  and  Worfnp  of 
God.  This  was  Tyres  Happinefs  andBenefit  by'her 
Situation  (otTrajpc*  She  was  much  the  more  known 
tolfrael,  and  knew  fo  much  the  more  of  her  God  and 
Worship,  than  other  Places,  Her  Merchandife  put 
her  in  the  Way  hereof.  Many  a  Man  of  Tyre  went 
a  trading  to  Jeru[alem,  and  heard  of  the  true  God, 
his  Law  to  and  his  Works  for  Ifrael,  and  faw  his 
San  ff  nary,  the  Order  and  Worfliip  of  his  Houie. 

Many  of  the  Jews  alfo  were  led  to  Tyre  by  their 
Trade,  where  they  accidentally  fpake  of  the  Lerd 
God  of  their  Fathers,  his  Worfhip,  Laws  andWorks. 
Other  Places  it  may  be  took  up  ftrange  and  odd 
Notions  of  that  feparate  People,  as  a  fingular  fort  of 
Folk  -y  but  the  Tyrians  faw  they  were  a  wife  and  un~ 
derfttnding  People,  had  Statutes  and  Judgments  rr.oft 
righteous,  and  excelled  other  Places  in  Sobriety  and 
Juftice  as  well  as  in  Devotion.  And  who  knows 
what  Influence  this  might  have  on  that  Degree  of 
Union,  which  there  w&sbetweenjerttfalem  and  Tyre 
in  the  Days  of  David  and  Solomon  ?  i  Kings  v.  6. 
My  Servants  JhaH  be  with  thy  Servants. 

But  this  ?we  know,  That  Christianity  has  been 
greatly  ferv'd  by  Trade  and  Merchandife ,  by  means 
whereof  a  greatPart  of  the  World  has  beengofpelifed. 

For 


Holinejs  to  the  Lore/.  it 

For  the  Knowledge  of  Chrift  has  been  propagated 
by  Trade  far  and  near.  The  Earth  and  Sea  have 
thus  help'd  the  Church,  and  as  Daniel  foretold  it 
would  be,Many  have  run  to  and  fro  (erofs  theOcean) 
and  Knowledge  has  been  increafed.  God  has  us  d  the 
Loadftone  and  the  Mariners  Art  in  the  Service  of 
Chriftj  and  the  Ends  of  the  Earth  have  feen  his  Salva- 
lion. 

And  to  add  yet  one  more  Benefit  of  Commerce  ; 
it  enlarges  Peoples  Hearts  to  do  generous  Things,  for 
the  Support  of  Divine  Worfliip  and  Relief  of  the 
Poor.  We  always  fee  moft  of  this  in  Places  of 
Trade.  And  fo  it  has  been  from  the  firit  Days  of 
Tyre,  of  whom  we  read,  "  The  Laughter  of  Tjrcfiatt 
be  there  'with  a  Gift  :  She/r/  and  more  free  of  her 
Gifts  than  others.  This  is  moft  natural  to  Places 
of  Commerce;  Something  to  give  and  a  Heart  to 
give.  May  it  be  always  found  fo  in  frW/V/gplaces ! 
but  efpccially  we  wifh  them  a  Heart  to  make  the 
beft  Gift,  Themfelves  with  their  Eftates,  and  this  in 
the  belt  Manner  •  as  the  Churches  of  Macedonia  are 
celebrated  for  ever  for  doing,  2  Cor.  viii.  i, — f. 

The  Riches  of  tvhofe    Liberality    abounded   In    their  deep 

P0tr*rrf,praying  the  Apoftles  with  much  Entreaty  that 
they  would  accept  the  Gift,  and  take  upon  them  the  Fellow- 
fjip  of  mini  firing  to  the  Saints ;  fir  ft  giving  their  own 
Selves  totheLord,  and  then  to  the  Apoftles  by  the  Will  of 
God.  cc  VVhenCon verts  joyn  themfelves  to  the  Church 
then  they  come  with  a  Gift,  devoting  their  Seed  *n<l 
Subftanee  together  with  their  Perlbns,  Gifts  and 
Powers,  to  his  Service  and  Glory. 

It  is  high  Time  I  now  come  to  the  Dotfrine  which 
my  Text  leads  me  to  enlarge  on,  which  is, 

Cf  That  the  Merchandise  and  Hire  of  a  People,  their 
Trade  and  worldly  Bufinefs,  their  Gains  and  Riches, 
fhould  be  Hotincls  to  tbs  Lord. 

D  The 


is  Mercha'todie  ^n     Hire 

The  Enquiries  under  this  Dottrlne  muft  be  r.  Into 
the  Meaning  of  the  Phrafe.,  Hollnefs  to  the  Lord.  2, 
When  the  Traffic  and  Wealth  of  a  People  may  be  fo 
called  ?  ;.  Why  it  muft  be  fo  ? 

I  The  Meaning  of  this  Phrafe,  Hollnefs  to  theLord 
muft  be  look'd  into.  And  thtfirft  time  that  we  find 
it  us'dj  than  which  there  could  not  have  been  found 
any  more  eminent,  was  the  Divine  Order  concern- 
ing the  High  Prlefts  Veftments,  his  Garments  for  Glory 
and  Beauty,  wherein  be  was  to  approach  before  the 
Lord,  and  minifter  unto  Him  upon  the  moft  fohmn 
Occafions :  Exodus  xxviii.  56,  37,  58.  Tbw  (halt  make 
#Plate  ofpureGold,  and  grave  upon  it  like  the  Ingr  wings 
ff  a  Signet,  Hollnefs  to  the  Lord  :  And  thoti  (halt  put  it 
on  a  blue  Lace,  that  it  may  be  upon  the  Mitre,  upon  tbt 
Fore-front  thereof  •  upon  Aaron's  Forehead,  that  he  may 
lear  the  Iniquity  of  the  HolyThlngs  whi-h  the  Children  of 
Ifraeljhall  hallow  In  aft  their  Holy  Gifts  -,  And  It  flail  be 
always  upon  his  Forehead^  that  they  may  be  accepted  be~ 
fore  the  Lord. 

Now  we  may  obferve  in  this  firft  Appointment 
of  this  Title  &  Infcriptlon,that  it  plainly  was  meant 
to  fignify,  i.  The  infinite  Holinefs  of  the  God  of 
Ifrael,  and  of  Chrlfl  the  great  High  Prleft  of  our  Pro- 
fejfion.  2.TheHolincfs  of  thePr  left  hood  and  Mini/ferial 
Office,  their  fpecial  Conficratlon  to  holy  Miniftrati- 
ons.,  and  their  fpecial  Obligations  to  be  Holy  to  the 
Lord.  ;.  The  Hollnefs  of  God's  Worfiif,  and  that  all 
his  People  muft  takeCare  to  be  very  holy  in  all  their 
Approaches  to  Him,  in  all  the  Inftltutions  of  his 
Worihip.  Pfalm  xcix.  The  Lord  Is  great  in  Zlon,and 
hl^h  above  all  People  :  Let  thempralfe  thy  great  and  ter- 
rible Name,  for  It  Is  Holy  ;  Exalt  the  Lord  our  God,  and 
at  bis  holy  #/#  j  for  the  Lord  wr  God  is  Holy. 

So 


Holinefs  to  the  Lor£ 

So  that  in  this  Title  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  we  have 
l.  the  Holinefs  of  God  :  2.  a  Confecration  to  Him, 
or  theScparation  of  a  Perfbn  or  Thing  to  boly  Ufes  : 
3.  Mtu*l  Ufe  and  Imploymcnt  therein  ;  and  4.  in 
a  fpeciai  Relation  to  his 


i.  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  fuppofes,  and  in  the  higheft 
manner  declares,  as  In  fining  Capitals  of  Gold3  the 
infinite,  unutterable,  incomparable,  inconceivable 
Holinefs  of  Jehovah,  the  only  true  God;  that  He  is  the 
Holy  One,  and  alone  Holy,  glorious  in  Holinefs,  the 
thrice  Holy  •  and  there  is  none  Holy  like  Him  or  be- 
fide  Him.  This  is  his  Glory  in  both  Teftaments  *, 
in  his  Temple  above  and  in  that  below  :  <c  /  faw  the. 
Lord  fitting  upon  a  Throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his 
Train  filled  the  Temple  :  Above  it  flood  the  Serapbims, 
covering  their  faces,  andQwe  cried  unto  Another  andfaid, 
Holy,  Holy,  Holy  is  the  Lord  of  Hofls  !  the  whole  Earth 
is  full  of  bis  Glory.  And  if  the  blefted  God  were  not 
Himielf  thus  Hely,  why  and  how  fhould  Perfons 
and  Things  be  called  Holiness  unto  Him. 

2",  It  fpeaks  a  Consecration  of  Perfons  and  Things 
to  God,  a  feparation  of  them  to  his  more  immediate 
Service  and  Glory,  to  be  of  holy  Ufe  according  to 
his  Will.  So  Aaron  and  the  'Priefrhoed  were  of  old 
feparated  and  devoted  to  God,  and  therefore  had 
this  Name  written  on  them,  Holinejs  to  the  Lord.  So 
the  Sabbath  is  confecrated  Time,  and  in  the  Hebrew 
called  Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  Exod.  xxxi.  15*.  In  like 
manner  the  very  Fruit  of  the  frees  in  the  fourth  Tear 
were  boly  to  praife  the  Lord  withal:  Levit.  xix.  24. 
The  Hebrew  Word  is  Holinefs  ;  being  given  to  the 
Triefts  and  to  the  Poor.  And  the  fame  is  faid  of  the 
Veffels  of  Silver  and  Gold,  Brafs  andiron,  in  Jerigo. 


3<       eve     y.    ,  9, 

D  ^  Jolh. 


7  4  Merchandise  'and  Hire 


Joftl.  vi.  19.  Thus  Ifrael  "was  Hollnefs  to  the  Lsrtl 
(Jer  ii.  j.j  by  the  Covenant  ofdrftmcijion,  their 
Dedication  to  God  therein  ;  and  in  like  Manner 
do  all  Chrifttan  People  by  their  Baftlfmal  Dedication 
to  G©d  wear  the  fame  Words,  as  on  their  Fonheads. 

But  moreover,  ;.  Hollnefs  to  God  imports  the 
't&ual  Ufe  and  Improvement  of  Perfons  and  Things 
in  the  Service  of  God  and  to  hlsGlory.  When  Aaron 
put  on  his  Mitre  it  was  actually  to  officiate  before 
the  Lord.  He  was  then  in  a  more  fpeeial  manner 
to  intend,  defign  and  act  for.,  the  fan&ifying  God's 
Jslame  in  holy  M  migrations.  Defaffo  there  was 
Hollnefs  to  the  Lord  in  his  right  Difpofkions,  and 
Difcharge  of  his  Office  :  Elfe  the  Priefthood  and 
\Voiftuppers  profaned  the  Hollnefs  of  the  Lord  which 
l>e  loved.  Mai  ii.  n.  Otherwife,  In  their  fet  Office 
(  fc  in  the  Diicharge  of  their  Office  to  which  they 
were  fet  apart  ")  they  fanttlfed  themfelves  in  Holinefs. 
2  Chron.  xxxi.  18.  Then,  and  then  only,  were  they 
Hollnefs  to  the  Lord,  in  Deed  and  in  Truth.  And 
fo  are  we  to  Cbrift,  if  we  are  holy  in  Heart  and 
Life  •  if  we  live  to  Him  In  all  holy  Confer  fat  f  on  9  as  in 
pur  bdptlfm  we  have  bound  our  Selves. 

4.  And  laftly.  This  Motto,  Hollnefs  to  the  LorJ, 
lias  a  more  particular  Regard  to  thtM^orjhip  of  God, 
his  Minfjtry&vd  Sanffuary,  his  Ordinances  and  In  ft  I- 
tutions.  So  Ifrael  as  Worfhippers,  and  Aaron  as  a 
Prieft,  and  the  Sabbath  as  the  Day  of  weekly  Wor- 
{hipj  and  the  Firft-fmlts  as  offered  in  Worfhip,were 
Dignified  with  this  Style  of  Holy  to  the  Lord.  So 
when  u>e  by  the  Grace  of  Gbd  devote,  ufe  and  ifri- 
ploy  our  Souls  and  Bodies,  our  Gifts  and  Powers^ 
pur  Time  and  Eftate,  in  the  Services  of  Religion, 
and  for  promoting  his  Worfliip,  they  become  Holl~ 
'weft  19  the  Lord  »  We  become  in  our  ferfcns  as 


"fJo  linefs  to  the  Lcrtf.  1  5 

es  of  the  living  God,  and  God  is  fanttifed  in  us 
as  in  them  that  draw  nigh  to  Him  •  and  our  Powers 
of  Mind  and  Body,  with  the  Fruit  of  our  Bodies, 
our  Time  and  Eftate,  our  Inttreft  in  the  World  and 
our  Influence  among  Men,  are  as  fo  manyOfferivgs  to 
jGod  at  his  Altar,  which  confecrates  the  Gifts. 

Having  thus  enquired  into  the  Meaning  of  the 
Phrale  Hotincfs  to  the  Lord,  I  come  now  to  enquire, 


II.  When  the  Traffic  *nd  Wealth,  Merchandise  and 
Bufinefs  of  a  Peribn  or  People  may  be  fo  called  ? 
To  which  I  anfwer  in  three  general  Heads, 

i.  When  Men  ferioufly  devote,  dedicate  &  con- 
fecrate,  firft  Themfelves  and  then  of  their  worldly 
Subftance,  a  due  Part,  to  the  Glory  and  Service  of 
God.  2.  When  what  is  fo  confecrated  to  God  out 
of  our  Eftates  is  abtually  ufed  and  implcyed  in  hisSer- 
yice,  according  to  his  Will,  In  Afts  of  Piety  and  Cha~ 
rity.  3.  Always  provided  that  what  we  fo  devote 
and  ufe  is  acquired  honeflly  &  righteoufly  inGod'sFear 
and  Way,  and  is  given  by  us  with  a  fpfritual  Mind 
and  Heart. 

I  Then  is  our  Merckandtfe  and  Trade,  Wealth  and 
worldly  Bufinefs,  Hollnefs  to  the  Lord  y  when  we  fe- 
rioufly devote,  dedicate  and  confecrate,  a  due  Part  of 
our  Subftance,  together  with  our  Selves,  to  the  Glory 
tnd  Service  of  God. 

Firft,  I  muft  fay  our  Selves,  for  the  Perfon  muft  be 
facred  and  dedicated  to  God  before  his  Eflate  will 
be  fo,-  the  Perfon  is  firft  holy  and  then  hisG//>,  This 
is  the  Order  of  Nature  and  of  Grace  *  :  for  which 


*    a  Cor,  viii.  j.    Matth,  xxiii.  17. 

is 


I  6  Merchandise  and  Hire 

is  greater,  the  Gift  or  the  Giver  !  how  much  lefs  is 
a  Mans  Eftate  before  God,  than  the  Man  himfelf  ? 
according  to  the  Apoftles  juft  Eftimation  of  the  Ma* 
eedonlans  and  their  mini  firing  to  the  Saints,  c  Who  fir  ft 
gave  their  own  Selves  to  tke  Lord.  God  looks  to  a 
Mans  Heart  and  Soul  in  all  his  Offerings  to  Him, 
whether  of  Praife  or  Alms.  It  is  the  Perfon  who 
wears  upon  his  Forehead  the  Infer  iption,  Holme  fs 
to  the  Lord.  If  the  Perfon  be  unholy  before  Him, 
Us  Sacrifice  Is  an  Abomination.  He  profanes  and  pol- 
lutes his  own  Gift  ,  asCain  did  his  Offering,  bring- 
ing it  with  a  wicked  Mind.  If  we  have  not  given 
our  Selves,  our  Hearts  to  God,  we  may  give  all  eur 
Goods  to  feed  the  Poor,  or  give  it  to  the  Church,  (for 
Them  that  dwell  before  the  Lord)  and  yet  there  will  be 
nothing  of  Holinefs  in  the  one  or  in  the  other  [|. 

Yet  the  Eftate  muft  go  with  the  Perfon,  as  it  is 
in  Marriage  ;  and  it  has  pleafed  God  to  efpoufe  un- 
to Himfelf  the  Soul  that  gives  it  felf  to  him  j  /  Z 
am  married  to  y  OH  }  faith  the  Lord. 

The  /r/  Offering  from  Man  that  we  read  of,  ac- 
ceptable to  God,  was  the  Perfon  with  a  part  of  his 
Eftate  •  I  mean  Abets  Offering.  C//»  alio  bro't  of 
the  Fruit  of  the  Ground,  but  God  had  no  Refptfl  to 
his  Offering  becaufe  he  had  not  firft  given  hlmftlftQ 
Him.  Abraham  having  refigned  up  Himfelf  to  the 
Divine  Will  and  Call,  gave  his  Tytbe  of  till  unto  tfa 
frleft  of  the  moft  Hlph  God  ;  the  famous  Type  of  his 
Lord  and'  Saviour,  after  whofe  Order  Chrift  is  a  Trleft 
forever;  and  he  was  blejfed  by  him.  So  Jacob 
vowed,  firft  that  the  Lord  foould  be  his  God,  and  then 
a  Tenth  of  all  that  God  fhould  give  him.  So  David 
having  firft  render'd  his  Heart  to  God  in  Flames  of 


Cor.  xiii.  4.    *    Jererji.  iii.  44. 

Pevotioq 


Holinefs  to  the  Lore?.  17 

Devotion,  then  gathered  »jaft  Stores  which  he  con- 
fecrated  for  a  Temple  to  theName  of  the  Lord  ;  and 
his  Princes  followed  his  Royal  Example.,  i  Chron. 
Xxix.  1  6.  17.  "  O  Lord  our  God,  all  this  Store  that  we 
have  prepared  cometh  of  thine  Hand,  and  It  if  all  thin* 
ewn  :  I  know  alfo  my   God,  that  Thou  triefl  the  Heart 
and  haft  Pleafure  In  Uprightness  :  As  for  me  In  the  Uf- 
rightnefs  of  my  Heart  have  I  willingly  offer  d  all  thefe 
Ih.ngs,  &c.     Here  was  rhe  Offering  0f  the  Man  af- 
ter G<d's  own   Heart.     And   we  find  in  the  Gofpel 
when  the  young  Man  came  and  offered  Himfelf  to 
Chrift,  our  Lord  demanded  of  him  alfo  the  Ufe  of 
all  his  Eftatf,    and    he  went  away  forrowfuL     It  is 
added,  for  he  bad  great  Toffejjions  *  :  He  might  then, 
one  would  think,have  been  the  more  ready  to  have 
given  freely  to  the  poor  out  of  it:  Or3  did  he  think 
his  Riehes  of  more   Price  than  bimfelf?  poor  Soul  ! 
it  feems  as  if  he  would  not  have  offer'd  himfelf  to 
Chrift,  had  he  tho't  himfelf  half  fb  good  as  hisPof- 
feflions  1  his  going  away  forrowfnl  fhew'd  that  he 
was  not  fencer  e  in  the  Offer  of  Himfelf.     On  the 
contrary  Zaccheus  being  a  fmcerePenitent,  gave  half 
his  Goods  to  the  poor,  and  Chrift  accepted  of  his  Per-' 
fony  and  laid   to  him,  "  Salvation  is   come  to  thy 
Houfe  t- 

So  the  frfl  Chrlflians  \\  when  they  had  given  up 
Them/elves  to  Chrift  in  Baptifm,  gave  in  all  their 
Goods  into  a  common  Stock.  It  was  on  an  extraor- 
dinary Occafion,  and  under  an  extraordinaryEffufion 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  The  Churches  Needs  call'd.for  it, 
and  the  Spirit  of  God  dire&ed  to  it.  Ananias  and  his 
Wife  had  only  given  their  Names,  not  their  Hearts  ; 
and  keeping  hack  part  of  thePrice  died  for  theSaen* 


•    Matth.  xix.  22.    f    Luke  xix.  9.    ||    Afts  iy.  34, 


V 

, 


lege 


i  S  Merchanc/ife  and  Hire 

lege,  and  their  Lying  to  the  Holy  Ghoft.  On  the  con- 
trary, the  Macedonians,  whofe  Praife  is  in  all  the 
Churches  for  Evermore,  having  given  both  their 
Names  and  Hearts  to  Chrift,  gave  liberally  of  their 
Eftates  for  the  Relief  of  the  poor  Saints,  even  beyond 
their  Ability.  Thus  was  their  Merchandise  Hohnefs 
to  the  Lord.  Neither  will  the  Eftate  do  without 
the  Perfon,  all  his  Heart  and  all  his  Soul  ;  nor  the 
Perfon  do  (if  that  could  be)  without  the  Eftate, 
for  it  will  go  with  the  Heart  and  Love.  —  But  I 
prevent  my  felf  on  the  fecond  Anlvver  to  the  En- 
quiry I  am  upon  : 

II.  Our  Merchandiie  and  Wealth  isHolinefi  to  the 
Lord,  when  what  is  confecrated  and  devoted  out  o£ 
our  Eftate,  is  adually  u/ed  and  impioyed  in  the  Ser* 
vice  of  God,  according  to  his  Will.  "  When  thou 
voweft  &  Vow,  defer  not  to  fay  $  why  fiould  God  be  an- 
gry at  thy  Voice  *  ?  Vow  and  fay  to  the  Lord  thy  God  I 
let  all  that  be  round  about  Him  bring  Prefects  unto  Hint 
that  ought  to  be  feared.  Prefcnt  thy  Self,  and  then 
remember  that  thou  haft  implicitly  and  virtually, 
if  not  mod  explicitly  and  exprefly,  vowed  to  him 
bis  Dues  out  of  thy  Eftate.  Bring  fhefc  Prefents  to 
Him  as  long  as  thou  liveft,  in  their  returning  Sea- 
fons,  Better  it  is  that  thoufiouldeft  not  ww,  than  that 
thou  foouldeft  <vow  and  nut  pay. 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  manyC/;r//?/^»j  do  not  eno' 
apprehend  and  confider,  that  their  worldly  Eftatt 
enters  into  their  general  Von>y  and  is  always  a  Part 
of  it,  in  their  Self -Dedication  to  God  But  God's 
Part  is  holy  to  Him  whether  we  confider  it  or  no  j 
and  if  we  re-nder  Him  his  Part,  the  whole  is  lan&i- 
fied  unto  us.  There  is  not  Holtnefs  to  God  written 


!    Ecclcf.  v.  4)  f>  &    P&lin 

on 


to  the  Lore?. 

on  our  Perfons,  Faculties  and  Powers,  nor  on  our 
Eftate,  till  both  one  and  the  other  are  ufed  to 
holy  Ends  and  Purpofes,  in  actual  Miniftrations  to 
the  Glory  of  God.  But  if  we  are  actually  honou- 
ring God  with  our  whole  Man,  Soul  and  Body, 
the  Powers  of  the  one,  and  the  Endowments  of  the 
other,  the  Sfirit  of  the  Living  God  dwells  and  rules 
in  us,  and  has  graven  en  us,  as  in  Letters  of  Gold, 
Holinefs  to  Himfelf.  And  if  we  are  honouring  the. 
Lord  with  our  Sub  fiance,  and  with  the  Firft-fruits  of  our 
Increafe,  we  may  read  with  Pleafure  the  fame  I* fir  if* 
tion  on  our  Eflates,  &  others  may  fee  it  on  us,  2 Cor. 
iii.  2.  Te  are  our  Epiftle  written  In  our  Hearts,  known 
and  rtad  of  all  Men  :  71?  are  manifeftly  declared  to  be  the. 
Epiftle  of  Chrift,  miniftred  by  us,  written  not  with  Ink, 
but  with  the  Spirit  of  the  Living  God  $  not  in  Tables  of 
Stone,  but  inflefoly  Tables  of  the  Heart \ 

Now  if  it  be  ask'd,  Wherein  a  Part  of  our  worldly 
Eftate  is  to  be  uid  to  the  Glory  of  God  t  it  is  eafily 
anfwer'd  in  the  two  general  and  known  Inftancet, 
Works  of  Piety  and  Charity.  The  frjt  is  the  very 
Thing  in  my  Text,  and  the  other  is  like  unto  It,  and 
never  to  be  feparated  ,•  the /r/  is  a  more  direct  Ex- 
preflion  of  Love  to  God,  the  other  to  our  Neibour  • 
on  which  two  hang  all  the  Law  and  the  Prophets,  and 
confequently  the  whole  of  Holinefs  to  the  Lord  is 
contained  in  them. 

:# 

Firfi  then,  Our  Wealth  and  worldly  Bufincfs  is 
Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  'when  with  a  true  and  right 
Heart  it  is  ufed  and  imployed  in  Works  ofPitty  to- 
ward God,  for  the  Support  of  his  Worflrip.  When  it  is 
for  them  that  dwell  before  the  Lord  to  eat  fitfficiently,  and 
for  durable  Clothing.  That  is  to  fay,  When  Men 
make  Conference  of  giving  unto  God  a  due  Pro- 
portion out  of  their  Eftates  for  the  Support  of  Re- 

E 


so  Merchanc/ife  and  Hire 

ligion  and  the  Maintenance  of  God's  Mlnlfters,  to 
feed  and  clothe  them,  and  that  fufficiently  and  ho- 
nourably ;  eno'  to  eat  of  plentifully,  and  to  clothe 
their  Families  decently,  and  leave  fomething  to 
them  when  they  die  .  The  Tithes  of  old  were 

fuch  aProvifion  for  the  Levites.  And  as  they  that 
ferved  at  the  Altar  liv'd  of  it,  fo  has  the  Lord 
ordained  that  they  -who  preach  the  Gofpel  JhoM  live  of 
the  Gofpel,  i  Cor.  ix.  14.  The  Bread  of  Mlnlfters  is 
the  Bread  of  God,  and  we  muft  allow  Him  to  be  a 
good  HoufhoUer,  &  to  keep  a  good  Table.  He  does 
not  feed  his  Houlhold  by  Miracles, but  by  his  reler- 
ved  Dues  out  of  the  Eftates  of  his  People.  He  will 
have  it  done  by  their  Hands,that  they  may  do  Him 
Duty  and  Homage,  and  pay  him  Tribute.  There  is 
always  a  part  of  your  Moneys,  whereof  he  fays  to 
you,  cc  Wbofe  Image  and  Sttperfcription  is  this  ?  and 
you  muft  anfwer,  It  is  Gods.  Then  render  to  Go  A  the 
Things  that  are  his.  Matth.  xxii  21.  Do  it  by  mi- 
niftring  out  of  your  Eftates  to  his  Houfe  and  Wor- 
ihip,  according  to  the  Ability  which  he  gives  you. 

When  People  expend  prudently  and  pioufly  for 
the  letting  up,  and  carrying  on,  the  Worjhip  of  God 
where  they  live,  or  in  other  Places  j  or  in  fending 
the  Gofpel  to  People  deftitute  thereof,  and  perifh- 
ing  for  lack  of  Knowledge ;  and  in  making  Provi- 
fion  for  a  more  private  Inftru&ion  of  Children  in 
fuch  Places  •  theirWealth  in  thisU/e  of  it  becomes 
Hollncfs  to  the  Lord.  It  comes  into  a  Relation  to  di- 
vine Worfhtp,  even  as  Aaron  and  the  Holy  Things  of 
old  belonging  to  the  Tabernacle.  -  .  But  unto  fuch 
Works  of  Piety  for  the  Support  of  God's  Worjhip,  we 
muft  add 

Secondly,  Works  of  Charity  and  Mercy,  which  are 
as  much  in  themfelves,  and  render  us  as  much,  Ho- 

ltne/4 


Holinefs  to  the  Lorcf.  21 

llnefs  to  theLord,  as  the  other.     Thcfe  belong  to  the 
fecond  Table  of  the  Law,  as  thofe  to  the  frft-     Pity  to 
the  poor  and  needy,  in  Obedience  t^  God  &  Con- 
formity to  Him,  is  Piety  and  Sanftlty  in  his  Sight. 
They  are  the  Lord  s  Receivers  as  well  as  his  Priefts, 
and  we  have  them  always  with  us.     And  the  pious 
foor  are  among  his  fplritual  Prie/ts,  rich  in  Faith, 
chofen  of  God  and  catted.    He  that  gives  to  them, 
for  their  comfortable  Eating  and  Clothing,  with  a 
right  and  charitable  Frame  of  Spirit,  lends  to  the. 
Lord,  And  honours  Him  with  his  Subftance.     Thefe  are 
fpiritual  Sacrifices  with  which  God  is  well  fleafed. 
There  is  Worfhip  and  Incenfe,  an   Odour  of  *  fweet 
Swell  in  them,  as  well  as  in  Offerings  at  the  Altar 
of  God.    The  Alms  of  Believers  go  up  for  a  Memo* 
rial  before  God,  with  their  Prayers ;  as  did   thofe  o£ 
Cornelius.     The  Great  High  Prieft,  at  the  Gulden  Altar 
within  the  Fail,  prefents  the  one  and  the  other  in 
the  Cloud  of  Incenfe 3  his  own  Merits  &  Interceffion. 
He,  the  Holy  One  of  God,  was  Holinefs  to  the  Lori 
above  all  the  Sons  of  Men  ,•  and  his  Miracles  of 
Mercy  were  like  his  Prayers  and  Devotions  beyond 
number,  and  alike  honorary   to  God.     God  will 
have  his  foor  fed,  as  well  as  his  Mlnlfters.     And  why 
not  ?  are  they  not  together  Heirs  of  his  K'n^dom  ? 
and  has  hCfnot  put  them  together  again  and^again, 
the  Levite  and  the  Poor  *,  in  his  Peoples  rejoicing 
before  him  on  hisfolewn 


But  give  me  leave  more  particularly  to  prove,  by 
three  or  four  Arguments,  that  Works  of  Chanty  to 
the  poor  are  proper  Holinefs  to  the  Lord. 

I.  They  are  Obedience  to  the  Law  of  God  which  is 
moft  holy.  The  Wort  of  God  is  the  Rule  of  Holi- 


!  Deut.  xvi.  Jfi,  14,    *jm.  u.  13, 

E  z  R«ft| 


22  Merchancfife  and  Hire 

nefs,  and  one  of  its  grand  Rules  and  Laws  to  us  i$ 
jllws-dteds,  and  a6j:s  of  Charity.  Theie  arc  an  e- 
roinent  Branch  of  that  Holimfs  which  the  Lord  re- 
quires, £ech  vii  9.  Thus  faith  the  Lord,  Shew  Mercy 
every  one  to  his  Brother.  Only  let  what  we  do  be  done 
in  Obedience  to  God,  for  his  Glory,  and  with  a 
pure  Kefped:  to  his  Will,  not  to  befeen  of  Men  ;  ha- 
ving true  Compajfion  one  of  another,  loving  as  Brethren, 
fit  if  #1,  courteous,  tender-heart  ed\\  $  otherwise  there  is 
no  Hollnefs  to  the  Lord,  nor  Reward  frpm  our  Fa- 
ther that  is  in 


2.  T£>  give  to  the  poor  out  of  our  Eftates  is  Holt- 
Ttefs  to  the  Lord,  becaufe  it  is  ourConformity  to  God  and, 
Cbrift  in  their  Bounties  and  Mercies  to  tfje  indigent  anel 
wiferable.  Conformity  to  (he  Holy  God  is  Hollnefs, 
but  Covif*]Ji',n  and  Mercy  to  the  poor  is  Confor- 
mity to  God  ,•  "who  maketh  his  Sun  to  rife  and  bis  Rain 
to  fall  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good  ,•  Be  ye  therefore  per- 
feft  as  your  Father  in  Heaven  is  perfett.  Mat.v.  45^48. 
So  Cbrift  approvedHimfelf  to  be  the  Holy  One  in  the 
Days  of  his  Flefh,  by  filling  up  his  Life  with  Ads 
Of  God-like  Chtrity  andMercy.  They  cried  after  Him, 
laid  themfclves  in  his  Way,  and  he  heakd  them  all. 
This  was  Hvlinefs  to  his  father,  and  in  the  Sight  of 
Men.,  and  we  Ihould  lay  up  in  our  Hearts  his  me- 
iporable  Words,  Ads  XX.  35-.  It  is  mere  blejjed  to  give 
than  to  receive. 

*  A  right  and  charitable  Difpofition  is  the  Fruit 
tf  the  Holy  Spirit  in  us,  &  therefore  can  be  no  other 
than  Holinefs  to  the  Lord.  "  The  Ftuit  of  the  Spirit  is 
Love  t.  There  is  much  of  the  Spirit  of  God  in 
Bpwels  pf  Pity  to  one  another.  "  If  there  be  any 


Matth.  vi.  i.     i  Pet.  Hi.  8.     Ephef.  iy.  32.    f  Gal.  V.  32. 
Phil.  ii.  j.    Col.  iij,  is. 


Holinefs  to  the  Lord.  23 


Fettowflrip  of  the  Spirit,  If  any  Bow  eh  and  Mercies. 
Communion  of  the  Holy  Ghof,  and  thcCommunion 
of  Saints  j.s  experienced  &  exhibited  in  thefeBowels, 
which  we  are  therefore  exhorted  to  put  on,  as  the 
Elctf  of  God,  holy  and  beloved  ^  and  becaufe  this  Cha- 
rity is  the  Bond  of~Perfettnefs.  Sec  the  Argument  and 
Demon/lration  of  the  Apome  James  on  this  Head, 
Jam.  ii.  iy,  16.  If  a  Brother  or  Sifter  be  naked,  an£ 
deftitute  of  daily  Food  $  and  one  of  you  fay  unto  them9 
Depart  in  Feace^be  you  'warmed  &  fitted  :  notwithftand* 
ing  ye  'give  them  not  thofe  Things  which  are  needful  to 
the  Body  ;  -what  doth  it  profit  ?  q.  d.  WhatFruit,what 
Evidence  of  any  true  Holinefs  is  there,  in  a  Soul  or 
Life  deftitute  of  the  Fruits 


4.  Is  the  Sabbath  and  its  Worfoif  Holinefs  to  the 
Lord  ?  So  are  Charities  and  Mercies.  There  is  fuch 
uStnttity  in  theie,  that  they  belong  to  &  are  a  Part 
pt  the  S*ntfipf*tio*  of  the  Sabbath.  Yea  fuchRegard 
is  had  by  God  to  an  A&  of  Mercy  to  our  poor 
Nei'bour,  that  He  has  made  his  own  Worfhip  to 
vail  and  give  place  thereto  for  the  Time  *.  cc  Go 
ye  and  learn  this,  I  witt  have  Mercy  and  ntt  Sacrifice. 
Which  of  you  having  an  Ox  orAfs  fallen  into  a  Pit,  will 
not  ftraightwty  full  him  out  on  the  Sabbath  day  ?  And  if 
a  good  and  devout  Man  muft  fhow  this  Mercy  to 
Jiis  Brute-Creature  on  the  Sabbath  day,  the  Holinefs  of 
God  dire&ing  him  io  to  do  •  how  much  more  muft 
fcot  A&s  of  Companion  and  Mercy  to  our  poor  and 
needy  Brethren,  and  to  the  neceffitous  Members  of 
Jefus  Chrift,  be  efteemed  by  the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath 
to  be  Holinefs  to  himfelf?  The  Zealfot  God'sHoufe 
and  Day  eat  up  our  Holy  Saviour,  but  more  his  Zeal 
for  an  A&  tf'  Mercy  to  a  poor  Woman  ;  Luke  xiii. 
I  o3—  17.  He  was  teaching  in  one  of  the  Synagogues  on 


*  Mat  A.  xii.  7.    Luke  xiy.  5. 

the 


Merchandise  and  Hire 

the  Sabbath-day,  and  behold  there  was  a  Woman  which 
bad  A  Spirit  of  Infirmity  eighteen  Tearsy  and  was  boweA 
tevether,  and  could  in  no  wife  lift  upberSelf:  An  A  when 
Jefus  faw  her.  he  called  her  to  him  and  f  aid  to  her,  WQ- 
wan  thoti  art  loofed  of  thine  Infirmity  !  And  he  laid  his 
Hands  on  her^  and  immediately  (he  was  made  ftralght^mel 
glorified  God.  Tell  me  now  which  was  molt  Holi- 
vefs  to  the  Lord,  the  Sermon  of  Chi  lit  on  that  biefled 
Sabbath,  or  this  his  Ad:  of  Healing  the  poor  Wo- 
man ?  truly  both  alike. 

Moreover,  Offerings  out  of  our  Eftates,  and  C<?/- 
le&ions  for  the  poor,  do  both  belong  to  the  Jewyk 
of  God  and  to  his  Sahbaths.  St  Luke  tells  us  of  a 
Treasury  \\  of  God  in  the  Temple  of  Old,  and  that  on 
a  Time  as  Cbrift  was  looking  on  the  rich  Men  that 
caft  their  Gifts  into  the  Treafury,  he  faw  alfo  a  cer- 
tain foor  Widow  who  threw  in  two  Mites,  and  faid, 
"  Of  aTruth  She  has  caft  in  more  than  they  aU.  bo  from 
Heaven  the  Lord  Jejus  ftill  looks  with  Approbation 
and  Pleafure,  on  the  free-will-Offerings  of  his  Wor- 
ihipers  in  his  Houfe  of  Prayer,  on  Lord's  Days  and 
at  other  appointed  Times  ,•  che  pocnr  as  well  as  the 
rider.  — .  And  fo  near  a  Kit*  are  God's  Worfrip  and 
Contributions  for  the  poor,  that  they  are  joyned  by 
the  Lord  in  Affinity.,  and  equally  declared  to  be  Ho* 
linefs  to  Him,  in  that  sJpoftolical  Conflitution  and  Di- 
re&ion  *3  "  Now  concerning  Gjlletfions  for  the  Saints y 
as  I  have  given  Order  to  thcChurches  of  Galatia,  fo  do  ye  • 
Upon  the  fir  ft  Day  of  the  Wetk  let  every  one  of  you  lay  Ij 
him  in  Store,  as  God  hath  proffer  d  him,  &C  Your 
Prayers  andHearing  the  Word  this  Evening  f  are  not 
more  Holinefs  to  'he  Lord  than  your  Cotteftion  is.  The 


jj  Luke  xxi.  i,  2,  3. 
f     At  a  quarter  Meeting  for  Charity  the  Lord  £  d*y  Evening, 
March  6.  1716. 

fame 


ffolinefs  to  the  Lord.  ±$ 

fameGod  has  fa;d  to  us,  "  Remember  the  S  Math-day 
to  keep  it  holy,  and  hath  alfo  faid,  c  t  o  do  Good  and 
to  communicate  forget  not3  for  with  fucb  Sacrifices  God  Is 


$.  And  laftly,  The  Promifes  made  byGod  to  thofc 
that  are  merciful  and  bountiful  to  the  poor,  do  a- 
bundantly  declare  that  there  is  Holincfs  to  the  Lori 
in  true  Ads  ot  religious  Charity  and  Mercy.     He 
that  is  Holy  would  not  be  fb  well  pleafed  with  our 
Charities  to  ths  poor  and  needy,   if  there  were  not 
tnuchHjlinefs.  in  them.     He  has  therefore  blejjed  the 
tnercirulj  and  laid  that  they  fall  find  Mercy.     He  is 
not  uniigtotcous  to  forget  this  Work  and  Labour  of  Lo~Jt. 
Net  that  there  is  any   Merit  or  Defert  herein,  but 
there  is  of  his  own  Holinefs  in  it.     If  it  were  not  fo, 
dims  would  never  come  up  for  a  Memorial  before 
Him.  Nor  would  they  be  fb  remembred,mention'd 
and  rewarded  in  theDay  of  Judgment,  as  Chrift  has 
told  us  they  will  be  ;  "  Then  (hall  the  King  fay  to  them 
en  his  right  Handy   Come  ye  bleffed  of  my  Father,   inherit 
the  Kingdom  prepared  J  or  you  from  the  feundation  of  the 
World  j  for  I  -was  hungry  and  ye  gave  me  Meat,  thirfty 
and  yt  gave  me  Drink,  a   Stranger  and  ye  took  me  In3 
'naked  and  ye  clothed  me,  &c.     Thefe  high  and  ever- 
lafting  Rewards  of  the  Charities  of  baints^provethem 
to  be  Holtvcfs  to  the  Lord.     Bleffed  and  Holy  is  he  that 
tas  Part  in  theie  Promiles  *. 

And  thus  we  have  feen  that  the  altualUfe  &  Im~ 
frovement  of  ©ur  Eftates  in  the  Service  of  God,  in 
Works  of  Piety  and  Charity,  renders  them  Holinefs 
to  the  Lord.  —  But  there  muft  be  fomething  added 
by  way  of  Caution  and  Limitation,  and  that  is 


f  Marth.  v    7.    Heb.  yi-  Jo.    Aft$X.  4.    Matth.  xxv.  3  *• 
Key.  xx.  6. 

HI.  Always 


a  6  Mefchanc/ife  and  Hire 

HI.  Always  provided  that  what  we  fo  devote  and 
ufe  is  acquired  honeflly  and  rtghtewjly  in  the  Fear  of 
God  and*  in  his  Way ;  and  is  given  by  us  'with  a  fpi- 
rltutl  Mind)  Heart  and  Affection. 

i.  What  we  have  and  give  muft  be  gotten  in  God's 
Way,  which  is  the  Way  of  Hollnefs.  If  we  go  out  of 
that  we  fin,  and  whatever  we  get  in  finful  Ways  is 
neceflarily  unholy  before  the  Lord,  and  abominable 
in  his  Eyes.  Now  that  what  we  get  may  be  ac- 
quired in  God's  holy  Way, 

Flrfly  Our  Dependence  muft  be  oti  God  for  his 
Bkjfing  to  make  our  lawful  Endeavours  profpcrous ; 
For  it  is  the  Bleffing  of  God  that  makes  rich,  and  it 
Is  He  that  gives  usPower  to  get  Wealth  •  it  is  therefore 
frofbane  and  unholy  to  a&in  our  worldly Bufinefs  but 
with  a  Dependance  on  the  Governing  and  over- 
ruling Providence  of  a  wife  and  Sovereign  God : 
James  iv.  14.  Go  to  now  you  that  fay,  To  Day  or 
to  Morrow  we  will  be  here  or  there,  do  this  or  that, 
and  make  Gain  ;  Whereas  ye  ought  to  fay,  IftheLord  will 
we  (hall  do  fo.  Let  Jacob  teach  us  how  to  begin 
and  go  thro'  the  World:  Gen.  xxviii.  20.  If  God 
will  be  with  me  In  the  Way  I  go,  and  give,  me  Bread  t9j 
eat  and  Rtlment  to  fttt  en. 

Secondly,  We  muft  daily  commit  our  worldly  Af- 
fairs toGod  in  Prayer,  and  more  efpecially  atTirnes 
our  more  important  Concerns  and  Interefts.  Our 
Lord  has  taught  us  to  bring  thefe  before  God  in 
our  Prayers  :  We  pray  for  them  in  that  Directory  or 
Form  for  Prayer  which  he  has  given  us,  the  fourth 
Petition  in  it.  We  pray  cc  that  of  God's  free  Gift 
Cf  we  may  receive  a  competent  Portion  of  the  good 
<f  Things  of  this  Life,  and  enjoy  his  Bleffing  with 
^  them,  It  is  greatly  for  the  Glory  of  God,  and 

foe 


Holinefs  to  the  Lord.  27 

for  our  temporal  Intereft  and  daily  Comfort  that 
we  daily  pray  for  God's  gracious  Direction  to  us 
in,  and  for  his  Bleffing  on  our  worldly  Bufmefs : 
*c  Jhat  the  Lord  thyGod  way  bkfs  Thee  in  all  the  Works 
of  thy  Hand.  So  Ifaac  pray'd  for  his  Son,  "  God 
give  Thee  of  the  Dew  of  Heaven,  find  the  Fulnefs  of  ths 
*Earth,  and  Plenty  of  Corn  and  Wine.  And  fo  Jacob 
prayed  for  himfelf,  sc  If  God  will  be  with  me  in  the 
W'ay  I  £P5  a*d  give  me  Dread  to  eat.  And  fo  Mofes  for 
the  Tribe  of  Lev!,  cc  Blcfs,  Lord,  bis  Subjtance  :  The 
lefs  it  is,  the  more»W  to  pray  over  it  •  for  theBlef- 
fing  of  God  can  make  a  little  go  far.  The  wife^wr 
has  taught  us  whai  to  pray  for,  "  Feed  me  -wlthFocd 
convenient  for  me.  He  is  unholy  &  prophane  whole 
Prayer  is  not  to  God  his  Heavenly  Father,  fvr  tbefe 
Things  *.  And  they  are  fan  ft  I  fed  to  us  by  Prayer, 
which  makes  them  Hollnefs  t&  the  Lord. 

Thirdly,  We  muft  keep  from  every  finful  &  wicked. 
Way  in  our  worldly  Acquifitions  and  Enjoyments, 
and  govern  our  Selves  by  the  holy  Laws  of  Ju'Hce 
and  Righteottfnefs,  Sobriety  and  Temperance,  and  uni- 
vcrfal  Obedience  to  the  Divine  Law.  Elfc  all  is  un- 
holy and  unclean,  and  we  forfeit  God's  Bleffing 
and  provoke  his  Curie,  It  is  only  fincere,  hearty, 
univerfal  and  perfevering  Obedience  to  the  holy 
Commandments  of  the  Lord  our  God,  that  will 
render  us  holy  and  acceptable  in  his  Sight.  Deut. 
XXViii.  I,  23  3.  If  tbou  (halt  hearken  diligently  to  thtVolce 
*c  of  the  Lerd  thy  God,  to  obferve  and  do  all  his  Com- 
fc  manJmcntS)  attthefe  Blejfings  (hall  come  on  thee,  . 

*c  BleJJed  foalt  thou  be  in  the  City  and  bleffed  in  theField  ! 
"  bleffed  the  Fruit  of  thy  Body  and  theFrult  of thyG  round  ! 
Jc  —  bleffed  thy  Basket  and  thy  Store  J  blefjed  fialt  thoti 


Deut.  xiv. 19.     Gen.  xxvii.  28.   xxviii.  20.     Deut.  xxxiii. 
l.  Froy.  xxx.  18.  Match,  vi.  32.    i  Tim.  iv.  5. 

F  be 


28  Merckancfife  and  Hire 

"  be  'when  thou  comeft  in,  and  bleffed  when   thou 
*c  out. 

Fourthly,  In  Cafe  a  Perfon  have  acquired  Riches 
in  any  unjuft  and  unrighteous  Manner,  by  Deceit  and 
Fraud,  or  by  Extortion  and  Opprejfion  ;  he  muft  make 
his  Peace  with  God  by  Repentance,  with  deep  Humilia- 
tion before  Him  for  his  Wickednefs  •  and  if  it  be  in 
his  Power  he  muft  make  Reftltutlon  $  which  if  he 
cannot  do  to  thtPerfbns  wronged  let  him  do  it  to  the 
foor,  befeeching  God  to  pardon  him  for  Cbrift's  fake 
and  accept  his  Offering  ;  and  then  his  Merchandise 
and  his  Charities  mall  be  yet  Hellnefs  to  the  Lord,not~ 
withftanding  his  paft  Unrlghteoufnefs  and  Sin.  See 
the  Cafe  of  Zaccheu*,  Luke  xix.  8.  And  Zacchtus 
food  and  fald  before  the  Lord,  (c  Behold,  Lord,  the  half 
ic  °f  my  Goods  give  I  to  the  poor'  and  if  I  have  taken 
"  any  Thing  from  any  Man  by  falfe  Accufatlon,  I  reft  or  t 
cc  him  four- fold  :  And  Jefus  fald  unto  him,  This  Day  is 
*c  Salvation  come  to  this  Houfe.-  "  When  true  Faith, 
Repentance  and  new  Obedience  comes  to  aHoufe, 
Salvation  comes  to  it,  however  great  the  Sins  of  ic 
had  been  before.  Zaccheus  had  been  a  Publican  and 
an  Extortioner,  exacting  more  than  was  his  right. 
<c  Thofe  Publicans  had  the  Ear  of  the  RonianGover- 
nours,  and  by  a  falfeAccount  of  Perfons  andThings 
could  eafily  be  injurious.  This  Chief  among  the 
Publicans  was  alfo  anfwerable  (it  is  to  be  feared)  for 
many  Abufes  of  Power  by  thofe  that  were  under 
him  But  he  here  flood  a  Penitent  before  Chrift, 
confeffing  and  feeking  Mercy.  A  Change  of  Heart 
and  Way,  and  fruits  meet  for  Repentance,  appear 
in  his  Words.  "  A  very  large  Proportion  of  thefe 
cc  ill-gotten  Goods  he  fct  apart  for  Works  of  Piety 
cc  and  Charity.  He  could  not  refund  to  the  Men 
in  Trade  and  Merchandife,  whom  he  had  wrong'd 
in  the  Seat  of  Cuftom  ;  They  were  gone  hither  and 

thither 


Holinejs  to  the  Lorcf.  2? 

thither,  and  he  knew  'em  not  nor  was  like  to  fee 
fome  of  7em  any  more  :  to  thole  he  could  find  he 
reftored  four-fold,  theRefidue  he  reftored  tothePoor; 
and  Chrift  accepted  him  as  a  humble  Believer  and 
true  Penitent,  a  Sen  of  Abraham.  —  Thus  what  we 
get  muft  be  in  God's  Way,  the  Way  of  Holintfs.  And 
then 

2.  We  muft  ufe  it  with  a  fpiritual  Heart  and  Mind. 
As,  (to  add  unto  much  that  has  been  already  faid) 
We  muft  daily  praife  and  blefs  God  for  dully  Bread, 
for  all  ourReceipts  and  Increafe ;  we  muft  give  Him 
the  Glory  and  render  Him  our  Thanks ;  "  O  God,  I 
am  not  'worthy  of  ths  lea/}  of  all  the  Mercies,  and  of  all 
the  Truth,  'which  thou  haft  flowed  unto  thy  Servant  \  for 
with  my  Staff  If  ajjed  over  this  Jordan }  and  now  I  am 
he  some  two  Bands,  This  was  Holinefs  to  the  Lord.— 
We  muft  earneftly  dejlre  and  ferioufly  refolve,  by  the 
Grace  and  Help  of  God,  to  [ewe  Him  in  Righteouf- 
nefs  and  Holinefs  before  him,  and  with  gladnefs  of 
Hearty  with  all  the  Good  Things  that  a  bountifulGod 
ftiall  ice  fit  for  us3  that  the  Lordfljall  be  our  God,  and 
we  will  live  devoted  to  him,  and  lay  out  our  felves 
to  glorify  him,  and  make  it  our  Meat  and  Drink  to  do 

his  mil.     This  will  be  Hollnefs  unto  Him The 

Abundance  of  all  Things  which  the  Lord  our  God  may 
give  us  richly  to  enjoy  muft  be  Co  far  from  charming  our 
vain  Minds  and  chaining  them  down  to  the  Things 
of  Earth  and  Senfe,  that  we  muft  indeed  make  Ar- 
guments and  Motives  of  them,  to  raife  ourHearts  un- 
to and/*  them  on  theThings  that  are  unfeen,y/>H~ 
tual  and  heavenly.  cc  From  Men  of  the  World  which 

cc  have  their  Portion  in  this  Life -As  for  me,  I  will 

c  behold  thy  Face  in  Right  eoufnejs !    I  foal  I  be  fat  is  fad 

e  when  I  awake  in  thy  Likenefs.     C(  Many  there  be  that 

fC  faj)  Who  will  jhew  us  any  Good  ?  Lord,  lift  Thou  up 

I!  the  Light  oftkj  Countenance  upon  us  /  Thou  haft  put 

F  2  <<  Gladneft 


go  Merchandise  and  Hire 

(C  Gladnefs  In  my  Heart,  mwe  than  in  the  'Time  that  tkeir 
c:  Corn  and  their  Wine  Increased  *.  .  Again,  We 

mult  be  ready,  thro'  Grace,  to  part  with,  andfubmit 
to  the  Will  of  God  in  the  lofs  of  all  worldly  Things  ; 
learning  In  what  fatter  State  -we  are  therewith  to  be  con- 
tent, both  how  to  be  abafed  and  to  abound^  to  be  full  and 
to  be  hungry.  Let  this  be  our  Frame  and  Temper  in 
the  Acquifkion  andUfe  of  our  worldly  Eftate,  and 
.G  od  will  write  Holinefs  unto  Himfelf  on  us  and  it. 

Only  it  mult  be  added,  to  the  Glory  of  Chrift, 
That  our  Per  fins  and  our  Efiate  are  Holinefs  to  the 
Lord  only  by  Faith    In  his  Holinefs    and  Right  eoufnefs9 
who  is  our  Great High-PrieJt  within  theHolj  of  Holies, 
ever  living  to  make  Inter  ceffion  for  us,   in  whom  and 
for  whofe  Sake  it  is  that  repenting  believing  Sin- 
ners are  accepted  as  Holy  in  the  Sight  of  God.  Aaron 
within  theyail  was  the  eminent^/u?  of  Jefus  entring 
*by  his  own  blood.     He  is  of  God  made  to  us  Holinefs, 
and  we  the  Holinefs  of  God  in  Him.      Hey  the  Holy  One 
of  God  was  made /»  for  us,  that  we  Sinners  may  by 
Faith  in  Him  become    Holinefs  to  the  Lord.     With 
the  Heart  Man  believeth  in  Him  untp  Righteouf- 
•jiefs,  and  God  is  f an  ft  i fed  therein  while  his  Mercy 
abounds  unto  the    Chief  of  Sinners.     Coming  to   Him, 
we  are  built  up  a  fpiritual  Houfe^  a  holy  Priefthood.  As 
He  went  to   the  Crofs,  he  faid,   cc  For  thtir  Sakes  I 
janffify  my  Self,    that  they  'may  be  ftn&ifed.     He  was 
ftp xr ate  from  5/Xtnat  we  niaY  corne  boldly  to  the  Throne 
*f  Grace  (|.     Bear  this  in  Mind,  That  no  Saint  is  Hp- 
linels  to  theLord  from  any  lnhercntHQ\ii\t($  in  him, 
nor /or  any  Works  of  Rigbteoufnefs  done  by  hint,  but  for 
the  peried  and  glorious  Holinefs  of  Chrlft  Beckon 'd 
to  him. 

*  Pfalm  Iv.  6.  xvii.  ult.  Phil.  iv.  rr.  J!  Hebrews  x.  Jp,— »aj 
i  Cor-  v.  :i-  J  Pet.  ii.  4,  5.  Heb.  vii.  26.  Phil.  iii.  9. 

And 

• 

mm 


Holiness  to  the  Lord.  31 

And  having  thus  faid,  When  theTraffic&  Wealth 
of  a  People  is  Hoiinefr  to  the  Lord,  I  come  (as  was 
propofed)  in  the  third  and  laft  place  to  enquire, 

III.  Why  it  muft  be  fo  ?  Why  our  Mtrclandife  and 
Hire  fhould  be  bro't,  with  our  Selves,  under  a  holy 
Consecration  to  God,  and  Uft  for  Him. 

I  might  eafily  enter  into,  and  enlarge  on,  many 
Reafons  of  this  Duty,  which  are  alfo  Motives  to  it, 
and  muft  pray  you  to  give  'em  a  juft  Confederation, 
and  fo  make  th  explication  of  all  that  has  been  faid 
every  one  to  himielf. 

I.It  is  the  bigheft  End  &  be  ft  Ufe  of  Man  and  of  all 
that  belongs  to  him,  his  fr(t  and  /^/End,  to  be  Holy 
1o  God.  "  The  Earth  is  the  Lord's, and  theFidneft  there- 
of,  the  World  and  they  that  dwell  therein.  The  Hea- 
vens, with  all  their  bright  Inhabitants,  ferve  to  no 
higher  End.  "  Angels  are  miniftringSp irits,  fent  forth 
te  mini  ft  tr  to  the  Heirs  of  Salvation  from  this  Earth 
of  ours.  Thofe  Watchers  and  Holy  Ones  on  High 
ufe  and  imfley  all  their  Powers  and  Riches,  in  Boun- 
ties to  the  poor  and  needy  Children  of  Men,  the 
poor  Saints  below.  And  can  we  do  better  than  They 
to  ferve  the  Ends  of  Holiness,  and  the  Glory  ofGod  ? 
fc  Whether  they  be  Thrones,or  Dominions  or  Principalities y 
or  whether  we  be  higher  or  lower  in  Rank  andE- 
ftateon  Earth,  all  are  created  by  Him  and  for  Him  $  t& 
Whom  be  Glory  for  ever  *. 

2-Thi  s  is  therefore  the  prefer  it  ed,  cemwanded  Ufe  of 
our  worldly  Riches,that  they  be  holy  to  God.  "This 
is  the  Witt  of  God  in  Chrifl  Jefus  concerning  us,  and  Our 


*  Pfalna  >xiv.  a.    Heb,  i.  14.    Daniel  iv.  13.  Col.  i.  16 

SanAificatioa, 

• 


3  2  MerchanJife  and  Hire 

San&ification.  God  cannot  will  letter  concerning 
ns?  than  that  we  and  all  that  belongs  to  us  be  My  to 
Him.  This  is  hh  good  and  acceptable,  his  royal  anel 
ferfett  Witt.  Let  us  put  our  Amen  to  it  and  fay, 
"  Father,  thy  Will  be  done  on  Earth  as  It  is  in  Heaven  [| 

**"• 

;.  It  is  the  greateft  Honour  and  'Dignity  put  on  us, 
and  our  worldly  State,  that  we  and  that  \>t  Holinefs 
to  the  Lord.  cc  This  Honour  have  all  the  Saints,  and 
only  They  ;  pralfe  ye  the  Lord  \  The  Glory  of  God  is 
his  Holiness.  He  is  the  High  and  Lofty  One,  whole 
Name  is  Holy  *.  A  Ray  from  his  excettentGlory  fhines 
on  Angels  above,,  and  on  Saints  on  Earthed  makes 
them  Stars  in  his  Firmament.  This  was  the  peculiar 
Honour  of  Ifrael,  "  Te  Jhall  be  a  holy  "People  unto  Me. 
God  has  not  a  brighter  Stone  in  his  ownCrown  than 
his  Holinefs,  nor  a  brighter  Crown  for  the  Head  of 
Creatures  than  to  make  them  holy. 

But  it  is  remarkable,  and  the  World  may  well 

wonder  at  the  Bcaft,  That  the  vaineft  and  -proudeft 
Creature  on  Earth  affe&s  this  facred  &  lofty  Style, 
His  Holinefs !  He  takes  the  Name  of  God  in  vain,  in 
the  moft  horrid  and  monftrous  manner,  and  the 
Lord  will  not  hold  him  guilt lefs.  The  Man  of  Sin 
calls  himfelf  HisHolinefs  1  was  ever  any  thing  more 
ab(urd,  and  yet  more  natural  ?  Only  the  Man  of  Sin 
durft  take  the  molt  bleilcd  and  incommunicable 
Name.  The  jealous  God  will  confume  that  wickedOne. 
Nothing  on  this  fide  Hell  can  be  further  from  the 
Holinefs  of  God.  t  The  Scarlet  Whore,  drunken  with 
the  Blood  of  Saints,  impudently  and  biafphemoufly 
calls  hcrfelf  His  Holinejs  !  Monftruw,  lnformey  ingens! 

\\   i  Thef.  v.  1 8.  iv.  3.  Rom.  xii.  2.  Jam.  ii.  8.  i  Pet.  ii.  9, 
*  Ifai.lvii.  15.  Dan.  xii.  3.  Deut.  ii.  21.    t  2  Thef.  ii. 


\Holinefs  to  the  Lore/. 

No,  the  Honours  of  Heaven  go  with  the  poor  In  Spi- 
rit, the  meek  and  lowly  and  merciful.  All  the 
Riches  and  Dignities  of  Kings  are  below  thefe  poor 
of  Chrift's  little  Flock,  to  Whom  it  is  the  Pleafurc 
of  the  Father  to  give  the  Kingdom. 

4.  Our  worldly  Goods  will  be  vilely  abufed  to  the 
Difoonour  of  God,  and  the  Hurt  of  our  Selves  and  o- 
thers,  if  they  be  not  holy  to  God.  They  are  the 
Mammon  of  Unrlghteoufnefs  for  want  of  this,and  gen- 
der to  all  UngddUmft.  They  become  a  Provifion 
for  the  Flcfato  fulfil  tbcLufts  thereof ';  the  Fuel  of  Pride 
and  Vanity,  Gluttony  and  Drunkennefs,  Lewdnefr 
and  Uncleannefs.  Or  thro'  Co'vetoufnefs  they  be- 
come Idolatry.  The  Love  of  Money  Is  the  Root  of  all 
Evil,  Sin  and  Sorrow,  to  our  Selves  and  others  ; 
ruinous  to  our  own  Families,and  alfo  to  our  Nei"- 
bours,  by  Diftioaefty  and  Unrighteoufnefs,  Deceit 
and  Fraud,  Extortion  and  Oppreffion.  For  where 
Charities  and  Mercies  fail,  and  Works  of  Piety,the 
forenamed  odious  Vices  grow  up  in  their  ftead,  of- 
fcnfive  to  God  and  Man  ,  Roots  of  Rltternefs,  bearing 
Gall  and  Wormwood,  all  manner  of  Corruption  and 
Iniquity,Calamity  and  Mifchief.  But  let  ourMer* 
chandife  and  Hire  be  holy  to  God>  and  all  this  is  pre- 
vented, and  our  Goodnefs  extendeth  to  the  needy  and 
the  excellent  of  the  Earth,  In  whom  jheuld  be  all  our  De- 
light •  and  we  become  Eyes  to  the  blind,  and  Feet  to 
the  lame,  and  Fathers  to  the  poor,  and  abundant  Mlcf- 
fings  in  our  Generation  *. 

$•.  The  Merchandife  and  Hire  of  Perfons  and 
Places  fhould  be  Holinefs  to  the  Lord,  that  the  Lord 
their  God  may  blefs  them  In  att  the  Works  of  their  Hands. 


*  P&Un  xyi.  2.  Jobxxix.  u,  it.  Philem.  v.  7. 

The 


34  Merchanctife  and  Hire 

The  Way  of  Holinefs  is  the  Way  of  BkJJlng.  Goi 
has  promifcd  to  blefs  hisPcople  in  this  his  required 
Way.  It  is  He  chat  gives  us  To-wer  to  get  Wealth. 
Read  his  Promifes  to  an  Obedient  holy  People, 
Deut.  xxviii.  "  All  thefe  HkJJings  flail  come  upon  thec, 
—Bleffed  fialt  thou  be  in  the  City  and  in  the  Field  ^C. 
He  has  threatned  to  curfe  an  unholy  People  in  the 
famelnftances.  If  he  blow  upon  'em  they  are  blafled. 
God  juftly  iwpoverifoes  the  Places  that  rob  him  of 
his  Offerings  and  Alms.  To  with-hold  his  Dues 
tends  to  Poverty.  But  prove  me  now  y  faith  the  Lord,if 
I  do  not  pciur  out  a,  Blejfing,  when  you  pay  to  Me  and 
mine  my  Part  out  of  your  Eftates  f.  "  Alas  !  fays 
*c  an  excellent  Divine,  that  Men  have  generally  fo 
cc  little  Faith  in  God's  Providence  or  Promifes  ! 
"  Few  believe  Him  when  he  fays,  "  Let  there  be 
<c  Meat  In  my  Houfe  that  there  may  be  eno7  in  your 
"  own  !  few  can  truf  God  as  to  the  Gains  of  Piety 
?  and  Charity. 

6.  Our  Mcrchandife  and  Hire  ftiould  be  holy  to 

God,  that  fo  his  ffiritualBleJflng  may  ctme  on  our  Seuls. 

This  lies  efpecially  in  a  fpiritual  Mind,  and  hea- 
venly Affedions,and  theComforts  of  Grace  :  Thefe 
arcthcperfeft  Gifts  from  the  Father  of  Spirits,  and 
are  more  (infinitely  morej  than  ail  prefent  Riches. 
God  gives  the  Power  to  eat  our  Bread,  and  ufe  it 
bolily.  To  him  that  has  this  Heart,  he  will  add 
more  Grace.  He  (hall  increafe  with  the  Increafings 
efGod.  Thus  the  liberalSoul  is  made  fat  inSpimuals, 
and  ht  that  watereth  is  watered  wain.  And  well  re- 

O 

paid  is  he  that/iw>e.f  in  worldly  Things,  and  reaps  in 
Spiritual :  Like  the  Woman  of  Samaria  who  gave 
Chrift  a  Uttle  common  Water,and  received  of  Him. 


f    Deut.    xxviii.  15,   16,    17*     Hag,  j.   9,    Proy.  *i.  24, 
Mai.  iii.  8,  *2* 

a 


jHolinefsto  the  Lord. 

a  Well  of  living  Water,  within  her  Self,  ff  ringing  up 
into  everlafting  Life.  i 

7.  Let  your  Merchandife  and  Hire  be  Holinefs 
to  the  Lord,  And  you  fly  all  have  Riches  in  Heaven.  So 
our  Lord  propofed  to  the  yeung  Man  that  came  to 
him.  The  Promifc  is,  (C  He  that  (oweth  to  the  Spirit , 
Jhall  of  thsSpirlt  reap  Life  Everlafting.  The  Promifes 
of  this  Nature  are  multiplied  (|  in  the  Book  of  God, 
becaufe  our  carnal  Minds  are  fo  averfe  to  the  Be- 
lief of  them.  But  will  Chrift  fail  us  in  aPoint  that 
he  has  fo  often  repeated  ?  He  has  faid,  "  Thy  Father 
cc  which  fees  In  fecret  will  reward  thee  openly.  Thou. 
"  foalt  be  recompenfed  at  tke  Refurreliion  of  the  Juft* 
"  Make  to  your  felvcs  Friends  of  the  Mammon  of  Un~ 
Cff  right  coufncfS)  that  when  ye  fail  they  m*y  receive  you. 
"  into  everlafting  Habitations.  Provide  Bags  which 
u  wax  not  oldy  a  Treasure  in  Heaven  that  faileth  nof9 
cc  where  no  Thief  approacheth,  nor  Moth  corrupteth.  .  * 
Thefe  are  true  Sayings  of  God,  He  is  faithful  ihat 
hath.promifid.  Both  in  our  Devotions  and  Cha- 
rities we  mould  have  Refpect  unto  the  Recompenfe  of 
Reward  :  Knowing  (fays  the  Apcftle)  that  in  Heaven 
ye  have  a  better  and  mere  enduring  Subjtance  •  Cafl  net 
away  therefore  your  Confidence  which  hath  great  Recom* 
•pence  of  Reward. 

You  muft  be  juft  to  God  and  your  Selves,  and 
make  theie  Riafons  of  your  Duty  fo  many  Motives: 
to  it. 

You  fee  i.  That  the  meanefc  Things  may  be  of 
good  and  great  Ufe  to  the  Glory  of  God  -  and  the 
moil  contrary  Things  be  made  to  turn  to  our  Salva- 
tion. We  may  (o  ferve  God  and  our  Selves  o£ 


*  John  iv.    14.  Prov.  xi.  25.  Gal.  yi.   8,     [I  Luke   xiv.   14 
xvi.  9.    xii.  33,     Heb.  x.   24. 


Merchandise  and  Hire 

as  to  make  it  a  Friend  to  Him  and  our 
Souls.  We  may  extract  Holiness  out  of  the  Dirt 
and  Clay  of  this  World,  the  thick  Claj  wherewith 
fo  many  load  themfelves  and  bury  themfclves.  God 
'fits  as  a  Refiner  and  does  this  for  us.  Grace  turns  all 
it  touches  into  Gold.  It  is  a  Stone  thatattrads  arid 
fixes  the  very  Iron  to  its  Pole,  which  is  Hollnefs, 
Heaven  and  God.  AsPfylofcpby  has  found  out  the 
richer!  Virtues  in  the  meanett  Herbs  and  Plants,  fo 
pivinity  teaches  us  how  to  improve^and  ufe  the 
mean  Things  of  this  World  to  the  rnoft  fpiritual 
and  heavenly  Ends :  And  when  we  ferve  God  and 
our  Souls  of  earthly  Things,  then  are  they  indeed 
wifely  and  rightly  ufed. 

2.  Let  us  be   humbled  for  the  111  Ufe  we   have  wade, 
of  our  worldly  Bufinefs  and  Gains,    our  si  I?  ufe  of  them 
unto  Unbolinefs  and  Sin.     What  is  more"   Enmity  to 
God  and  our  Selves  than  this  ?  Mens  worldly  Af- 
fairs engrofs  and  eat  them  up  \  eat  out  the  Heart  of  that 
little  Religion  they  profefs.     The  Cares  of  the  World 
.find  the  Deceitful  fie  ft  of  Riches  choke    the  Word.      Men 
go,  one  to  hlsFarm  and  another  to  his  Merchzndife.  God, 
and  the  poor,  and  their  own  Souls  are  forgotten 
and   negleded  by  them.     They  trup   In    uncertain 
Riches,  and  renounce  thtlMngGed*     They  fall  in- 
£O  Temptations,  and  Snares,  and  many  foelijl)  and  hurt- 
ful Lufts^hich  drown  them  inDcftruttlon  and  Perdition. 
They  are  filled,  and  they  fill  the  World,  with  allUn- 
r'igititeoufnefs,    Fornication,  Wickednefs,   Covet  ON fnefs   t 
\Vhat  a  fhamcful  Abufe  is  this  of  the  Bounties  of 
Providence  !  and  a  turning  his  Glory  Into  Shame ! 

3.  See  the  Honour  &nd  Happiucfs  of  a  religious  People. 
They  and  all  that  belongs  to  them  are  Hellnefsto  the, 


\  Luke  viii.  14.  Matth.  xxii-5.  J  Tim.vi.p,  17.  Rcm.  f. 


Holiness  to  the  tord.  37 

Lord.  Bleffed  &  holy  is  He  that  hath  part  in  this. 
They  are  in  God's  Church  here  in  the  Image  of 
Jefus,  the  great  High  Prieft  of  their  Profeffion. 
They  are  a  holy  Priefthood,*  fpiritttal  Heufe,  the  Houfe- 
hold  of  Faith.  What  can  Angels  be,  and  what  can 
Heaven  be  more  than  this,  Holinefi  to  the  Lord  ?  Jefos 
is  this,  within  the  Holy  cf  Holies,  at  the  right  Hand 
of  God.  He  calls  his  cholen  into  Ftlbw/kif  -with 
Him,  and  with  his  Angels.  His  People  are  a  King- 
dom ofPrie/ts,  a  holy  Nation.  There  are  Garments  of 
Glory  and  Beauty  provided  for  them,  wherein  fhortly 
to  enter  the  Holieft  of  all  So  the  Afoftle  falutes 

and    fuperfcribes  • , *  "  To   the  Church  of  God 

fc  which  is  at  Corinth,  (anttifiedin  Jcfus  Chri ft,  called 
€f  to  be  Saints  •  with  all  that  in  every  Place  call  upon  the 
cc  Name  of  fefus  Qhrifc  our  Lord,  bcth  theirs  and  ours  / 
cc  I  thank  my  God  always  on  your  behalf,  for  the  Grace  of 
fc  God  that   is  given  youby  Jefus  Chrift. 

4.  andlaftly,  I  befeech  you  brethren,  by  the  Mer- 
cies of  God,  that  you  prefent  your  Selves,  Children, 
Families,  Sub  fiance,  Gifts,  Talents,  all  you  are  and 
have,  as  living  Offerings  to  God,  holy  and  accepta- 
ble thro  Jefus  Ghrifl.  How  fhould  an  unholy  Perfon 
offer  to  vGod  in  a  holy  manner  ?  The  Perfon  is 
more  than  his  Eftate.  Chrift  feeks  not  yours  but  you. 
The  Soul  is  his,  and  all  Souls  are  fo.  There  are  the 
Riches  of  Souls,  their  noble  Faculties  and  Powers 
with  every  natural  and  acquired  Gift  ;  and  what 
fliould  be  thy  Gift  to  God  but  The.fe  \  thy  whole 
Self ;  Body,  Soul  and  Spirit,  which  is  your  reafonable 
Service.  Prov.  xxiii.  26.  My  Son,  give  me  thy  Heart. 

Next  to  thy  *£/fare  thy  Children  :  Give  theft  to 
God  as  thy  beft  Riches,  thy  richeft  Jewels.  They 
are  holy  to  Him  by  Covenant,  as  the  Family  of  Abra- 


Ccr.  i.  :.     i  Pet.  ii,  5,  9.    Exod,  xix.  6. 

ham 


g  8 


and  Hire 


haw  was.  This  Bkjfing  is  come  upon  us  Gent.L 
thro  Faith  in  that  BleJJ'ed  Seed,  In  Whom  the  Familis* 
of  the  Earth  are  blejfid  :  and  thro'  Whom  the  Offerings 
»f  the  Gentiles  are  acceptable  to  God,  being  fan&ified  by 
the  Holy  Ghoft.  What  can  a  Man  give  to  God  in  Ex- 
change for  his  Soul  and  the  Souls  of  his  Houfe  ?  will 
he  give  his  EJtate,  and  think  it  will  be  accepted  ?  I 
trow  not. 

God  values  our  Hearts  and  Spirit's  above  all  our 
Silver  or  Gold,  our  Herds  and  Flocks.  If  a  Man 
would  give  all  tkeSubftance  of  his  Houfe  injtead  of  Love  , 
the  Loves  of  his  Soul  and  the  Souls  ok  his  Houfc, 
it  would  be  contemned.  Thoufands  of  Rams  were  a 
Jo?s-neck  in  lieu  of  the  Lwe  of  one  Soul. 

"We  owe  the  firft  and  greateft  Piety  and  Charity  to 
our  Selves  and  at  Home.  We  and  ours  are  mad*  for 
ever,  if  we  are  holy  to  the  Lord  :  But  we  are  profane 
and  miferable  without  it. 

The  rich  and  the  foor  equally  owe  Them  /  lives  to 
God,  and  are  equally  able  to  render  it.  The  Lord  Is 
the  Maker  of  them  both,  and  they  are  alike  acceptable 
to  Him.  The  one  muft  be  rich  in  gotd  Works,  ready 
to  distribute,  willing  to  communicate  ;  and  the  other 
rnuft  be  rich  in  Faith,  Heirs  of  the  Kingdom. 

It  is  a  holy  Thing  to  givs  unto  fucb  as  the  fc,  from 
.Faith  and  Love  'which  is  'in  Chrift  Jejus. 

1  will  read  you,  the  be  ft  Offering  that  any  Man 
can  make  to  God  !  read  it  and  bUt&e  it,  and  I  have 
done:  Gen,  xviii.  -19.  I  know  Abraham,  that  he  will 
command  his  Children  and  his  Houfoold  after  himy  and 
they  Jhall  keep  the  Way  of  the  Lord  ;  —  that  the  Lord 
way  bring  upon  Abraham  that  which  He  hath  fpokcn  cf 
him. 

FINIS. 


ERRATUM. 

Page  io»  line  20.  for  dstidentally  read 

o     o 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


u. 


LD  21A-50m-8,'61 
(Cl795slO)476B 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


e  mercnandise   of  a 


M1806O5 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


